How long do dental implants last?

Dental implants are designed to substitute the actual teeth in your mouth. So when you think about it that way, they are supposed to be pretty durable right? You should be able to use them to chew crunchy food, bite an apple or even pistachio shells you know?

So now that we have established that dental implants are durable, how long do dental implants actually last? Will they last forever? Well, nothing lasts forever.

How long do dental implants really last?

During implant surgery, the facial structure and jawbone structure is preserved. And the implants are firmly attached to your jawbone just like your actual teeth and that is the reason, orthodontists are able to promise durability of dental implants.

If you take good care of your implants and follow your dentist’s advice to the T, your implants can even last more than 25 years! YES! It may sound unbelievable but it is true. If you want to know how, keep reading this article as we do explain how you should take care of your dental implants.

Components of Dental Implants

All dental implants comprise of three major components:

1. The Implant is the root of the dental implant. This is made of titanium and this is the part that is etched into the jawbone.

2. Next comes the Abutment. This is the part that holds the implant in place and stays above the gum line.

3. The Crown is what you see from the outside. It looks like a natural tooth and is usually made of ceramic and is placed on the abutment to mask it and disguises itself as a strong and white new tooth.

What to expect after dental implant surgery?

Just replacing your damaged and missing teeth with dental implants is not all that implant surgery is about. During implant surgery, the faciomaxillary surgeon will make sure the bone structure is not altered and will reduce the load on your existing real teeth. Doing this will help keep bone loss and bone deterioration at bay and all preserve natural teeth tissue.

If you are wondering how your teeth will look after dental implant surgery, don’t worry. The implants will not only look but also feel exactly like your actual teeth. So no matter how many times you sweep your tongue over them, your tongue won’t know that they are implants.

And these teeth will look shinier and brighter than your old regular teeth which will help improve your self-confidence. You can finally flash that huge smile without worrying about any gaps in your gums or tooth discoloration.

How to care for your teeth after dental implant surgery?

Since we have already covered that dental implants can last for even 25 years, let us now see how we can achieve this.

But before we start with what you should do after the dental implant surgery, let us take a look at who does the implant surgery. The more experienced your faciomaxillary surgeon is, the better they will be at skillfully placing the implant into your bone structure and gums.

They will also properly assess if the implant has gelled well into your gums and fused with your bone structure. And if they are experienced, you will also not have to worry about any of this. But keep in mind that experienced faciomaxillary surgeons can cost a lot. So make sure your dental insurance plan covers dental implants as well.

1. The first and foremost cause of concern is how you use your teeth. If you are someone who opens beer bottles with your teeth, even the strongest natural teeth won’t last long. So be mindful of what you bite and chew into. While taco shells won’t do you any harm, stones will.

2. Next come your oral habits. If you brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once, you have nothing to worry about. Your teeth will last a great couple of decades without any worry.

3. Whether you have any issues or discomfort with your teeth, it is always better to visit your dentist once in 6 to 8 months. This will help them catch any issues before it is too late and give necessary treatment.

4. The next thing that you have to keep in mind is where in the mouth the implant is placed. Implants at the back of your mouth may not last as long as the ones in the front as they are subjected to more chewing and therefore are under more pressure than the ones in the front. So take special care of the implants at the back of your mouth.

5. You should also avoid smoking or drinking immediately before or after your implant surgery. You can consult your surgeon about the exact time period that you should refrain for.

6. Other than all of this, if you avoid aerated drinks and sweets, you can be assured that your dental implants will do great for even 50 years. Just like your teeth, your implants will also get severely affected if you consume a lot of aerated drinks and sweets. The least that you can do is at least brush your teeth thoroughly after consuming such items.

Are dental implants the only option?

Are dental implants the only alternate substitutes for original but damaged teeth? Obviously not, there are dentures, dental bridges, mini-implants and dental crowns. But it is true that going for dental implants if you can afford it would be the smart thing to do.

1. Implant – This is the root-like part of the implant. It is the post, usually made of titanium, which is surgically inserted into the jawbone of a patient. In a nutshell, the implant functions as a root for the prosthetics – crown or bridge.
2. Abutment – The abutment is screwed onto the implant. It stays above the gum line and holds the prosthetics in place.
3. Crown – This is the part that looks like the natural tooth. The crown is mostly made of ceramic and is fastened to the abutment to mimic the natural tooth.

Generally, the exposed parts of the affordable dental implant – abutment and crown – are more susceptible to deterioration and damages than the implant itself. That is, the titanium post may last almost a lifetime while the crown may last about 15 to 25 years considering the care and maintenance that it receives.