Your Questions Answered on Dental Implant Longevity

On average, dental implants will last you around 25 years. However, there are many things that can impact dental implant longevity, such as your genetics and how you use your teeth.

Understandably, the longevity of dental implants will differ from person to person. So how long do dental implants last anyway? We'll explore the answer to this question, as well as other important things, such as the benefits of an implant.

Before we move onto more complicated questions regarding this subject, we should first discuss what dental implants are.

Dental implants are an option for tooth replacement so you can eat, smile, and speak as you used to, before you lost your teeth. This applies to natural tooth loss or ones that have been pulled because you have health issues with them. So not only can you restore your looks, but you can also restore your teeth's function as well.

The types of dental implants available are endosteal and subperiosteal.

In most cases, dentists will use endosteal dental implants. These are where the implant is put into your jawbone.

As for subperiosteal dental implants, these go on top of your jawbone, hence the "sub" part of the name. Implants in your jawbone provide a sturdier base, which is why they're more commonly used. However, subperiosteal implants may be used if a patient isn't suited for endosteal implants for whatever reason.

Now that you know what dental implants are and what types are available, here are the basic parts that are attached to your jaw when you go for a dental implants procedure.

There are 3 parts to this procedure: the dental implant, abutment, and dental crown. Read on to learn more about each one.

Dental Implant

Contrary to popular belief, the dental implant isn't the artificial tooth that fills in the gap. Instead, it's known as the dental post; these are typically made of titanium.

As we've discussed above, the implant can go either into or on top of your jawbone. Think of it as the anchor for the rest of your dental implant components.

Abutment

Next, the dentist will put in the abutment. The abutment is basically the connector between the implant and the crown. It serves as a secondary anchor, which the crown will attach to.

Dental Crown

As the last step, your dentist will place a dental crown on top of the implant and abutment.

For most patients, they'll get porcelain or ceramic dental crowns, as these materials closely match natural teeth. That way, no one will be able to tell you have a dental implant, especially since your dentist will find the perfect shade to match the rest of your teeth.

Otherwise, if you want something more flashy, you can always get your crown in gold or silver.

It's evident that dental implants are a great tooth replacement option. But what else is out there?

Your other options include partial or full dentures, tooth-supported fixed bridges, and resin-bonded bridges. In fact, many dentists will explore these options first before suggesting dental implants.

In general, though, dental implants are considered the best option when you want a long-term solution to replacing your teeth.

You may be wondering what the benefits of this type of tooth replacement are, especially when compared to your other options. When you read about these benefits, you'll see why people choose to have implants done.

As we've discussed above, with dental implants, you'll get to eat, smile, and speak much more easily and comfortably. As a result, you'll feel more confident and sure of yourself, which can have a tremendous impact on your quality of life. This can be especially true if you previously felt extremely self-conscious about your teeth.

How long do dental implants last? Again, the average is around 25 years. But when it boils down to the individual, it can be as short as a few years to several decades.

This is because there are many unique factors at play when it comes to the longevity of dental implants.

For example, some people are just genetically predisposed to have more dental issues than others. If this is the case, then dental implants may fail much sooner than 25 years.

On the other hand, your daily habits can also shorten your implant lifespan. For instance, if you don't brush and floss regularly, have other pre-existing conditions, and/or have a poor diet, all these factors can wear down your implants quickly. In addition, if you have a habit of chewing on hard objects, this can also negatively affect them.

So do dental implants last forever? For some lucky people, they can. But for most people, the dental implant lifespan will be maybe 20 to 30 years if they take good care of them.

We've pretty much already covered why dental implants fail in the above section. That's because for the most part, whatever affects your implants will affect them negatively.

To decrease the chance of your implants failing, you should always brush and floss regularly, eat a good diet, and keep gum disease at bay. You should also avoid chewing or biting on hard things.

Now you have a general idea about dental implant longevity and what can affect it. Regardless, implants are a fantastic choice when it comes to replacing missing teeth, especially when compared to alternatives.

So if you have missing teeth and want to restore your smile, it's time to ask a dentist about dental implants. Garland K. Davis, DDS Family Dentistry in Laurel, MD is here to help. You'll regain your confidence in no time!

Ready to make an appointment for dental implant services? Then book one with us now.