How Long do Dental Implants Last?

Dental conditions are typical due to lack of proper hygiene, limited access to dental care, injury, or other issues. Most children (up to 90%) and adults (nearly 100%) have at least one cavity, and up to 20% of adults ages 35-44 have severe gum disease; no wonder tooth loss happens so often. There are several ways to address missing teeth, but dental implants have quickly become a popular solution for managing the problem. 

There are many benefits to getting them over other tooth replacement options, but how long do they last before you need to repair or replace them? Let’s explore this question by looking at the basics of dental implants and their advantages and determine how many years you can get out of them.

Dr. Ayed Hawatmeh and his team at Bravo Dental Group can help Brea and Banning, California residents looking for dental implants or other options for replacing missing teeth.

Dental implant basics

This form of restorative dental treatment replaces a tooth (or several teeth) with functional crowns by attaching them in a process known as osseointegration using a metal post and a device called an abutment. The process gets done in three parts: drilling into the jaw to get the post in, allowing the post to fuse with the bone, and then adding the abutment and crown at the top to complete the process.

This type of tooth replacement often treats tooth loss due to cracked teeth, cavities, bruxism (tooth grinding), gum disease, and teeth that don't develop (also known as anodontia), which has become a common choice for managing missing teeth, with more than 3 million done annually in the US alone.

Advantages of getting them

The range of benefits of using this option to replace teeth include the following:

• Fusing the post to your jaw makes the implant far more stable than other options
• It functions like your natural teeth when chewing and speaking
• Preserves the remaining bone in the jaw, which makes you look younger
• Lowers the amount of stress on the remaining teeth
• It gives you the ability to floss and brush as you do with your natural teeth
• Improves self-esteem

The osseointegration process can take three to nine months, depending on how quickly your body heals, which makes this process take longer than other traditional options. However, the wait is worth it when your implant finally gets placed.

Duration of use before replacement

Once the crown gets placed and the process is complete, the post in your jaw is permanent, and the only part that is likely to be replaced is the crown itself. This step may be necessary in about 15-20 years, but with proper care and regular visits, we can ensure everything works and lasts longer.  

The crown's viability gets shortened with specific issues, including not practicing proper dental hygiene, not having enough bone in your jaw to support it, grinding your teeth, and smoking.

Dental implants are an option for replacing teeth that can last many years with the correct care. If you need to replace a missing tooth, make an appointment with Dr. Hawatmeh and his team at Bravo Dental Group today.