Dental implants are becoming increasingly popular. They are a permanent solution to dental concerns as they are actually stronger than teeth. With single visit options to have dental implants done, the price has come down quite a bit in recent years making them even more popular.
Although they are strong, people are wondering how long they actually last. They can last a lifetime but that isn’t the end of the story. There is more that you need to know about dental implants to make sure that you get the most out of them. In this article, we will go over what you need to know about dental implants if you are wondering about how long they last.
Chapter Overview
They can last a lifetime
Since a dental implant is stronger than a regular tooth, it can last until the end of your life. This is a bit confusing, however. There are parts of the implant that won’t likely last much more than 10 or 15 years. And, there are still regular brushing, flossing, and checkups that need to happen to make sure it all lasts a very long time.
For instance, the crown is only going to last 10 to 15 years and only if the proper care is given to the implant. As strong as the cover of the implant is, it is still susceptible to wear and tear and will eventually be worn out and need replacing.
Another factor in how long the crown will last is where the implant is in the mouth. Molars take the brunt of the wear in the mouth as they do most of the crushing and grinding of food. These will be the first ones to wear out and need to be replaced.
What is an implant made of?
The longevity of dental implants over a regular tooth is the material they are made from. A regular tooth has strong enamel on the outside, in fact, it is stronger than bone. But, it does wear down faster than the material of an implant.
There are three components of dental implants: the implant, the abutment, and the crown. The implant is the anchor that is drilled into the jawbone and is what makes it an actual implant. It is usually made out of incredibly strong and resistant titanium.
The abutment is the part of the new tooth that connects to the implant and is then covered by the crown. The crown is essentially the new tooth itself. It is made out of ceramic that is specially formulated for use as a tooth. It is why an implant can’t last forever as ceramic does eventually wear down.
Implants can still fail
There are some factors that can lead to an implant not surviving the life of the patient. For instance, if the patient has diabetes then there is a higher risk of it failing due to the health of the bone. Cancer is also responsible for the failure of an implant.