A Lifetime of Happy Smiles: A Closer Look at the Longevity of Dental Implants

If you have missing teeth that you’d like to replace, you might be considering dental implants. You’ve heard that they’re the gold standard of tooth replacement, and you want what’s best for your smile – however, you may still have questions or concerns. One thing that many patients wonder is if dental implants are truly a long-lasting and permanent solution for tooth loss. In the vast majority of cases, they absolutely are! Here’s what you need to know.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants refer to titanium posts that are surgically placed beneath the gum tissue, directly into a patient’s jaw. Through a process called osseointegration, these posts can actually fuse with the bone tissue to form a permanent bond and sturdy foundation for a custom-made dental restoration. They’re often considered the gold standard of tooth replacement for this reason – they replace the lost teeth from root to crown!

How Long Will Dental Implants Last?

Dental implants offer all kinds of benefits, including preventing bone resorption as well as increased biting power, but their longevity is one of their most impressive features. When properly maintained with adequate brushing, flossing, and routine preventive dental care, an implant has the potential to last for several decades or even a lifetime. This is significantly longer than traditional restoration solutions, like dentures. Dental implant cases also typically have a success rate of over 95%, making them not just long-lasting, but incredibly reliable.

What Factors Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

Though they can last for a lifetime, there are still some factors that can cause an implant to fail prematurely. For example, people who suffer from diabetes or a pre-existing medical condition, like cancer, might be at higher risk of dental implant failure. Likewise, using your teeth improperly, smoking tobacco products, or sustaining a dental injury could also cause your implants to fail sooner, meaning it’s wise to avoid bad oral habits and wear a mouthguard when playing sports.

Of course, chronically poor oral hygiene poses the biggest threat. If you’re not staying on top of your oral hygiene, you might develop a condition called peri-implantitis, which destroys the supportive tissue surrounding your implants, causing their bond to weaken.

Nonetheless, many of these factors are preventable on the patient’s part, meaning that if you commit to dental implants, take great care of them – your reward will be a healthy, complete smile for life!

About the Practice

Lancaster Family Smiles has proudly served the dental needs of patients and families in the Lancaster community for several years, offering a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatment options, as well as full-service dental implants under one roof! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with the team to set up a visit, please reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (469) 437-4817.