How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Covington, WA
 Adults who are unfortunate enough to lose teeth to dental trauma or disease do not want a temporary solution. Instead, they look for a permanent solution to their tooth loss. Luckily, if you have experienced tooth loss, you need to know that there are options. One of the best options available for tooth loss is dental implants. Dental implants represent a permanent solution for your missing teeth, but how long do they last? Here is some information from about dental implants, including single-tooth dental implants and multiple-tooth dental implants, and how long you can expect those implants to last.
What Exactly Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a great innovation for patients who have lost their teeth. Whether patients lose their teeth due to disease or trauma to the mouth, dental implants are a great solution. All dental implants have three parts. Instead of a tooth root, dentists substitute a zirconium or titanium screw that they implant directly into your jawbone. This screw will anchor your prosthetic tooth to your jawbone so that it resembles the anatomy of your natural tooth. The second part of the dental implant is the abutment, which connects your new prosthetic tooth and your metal screw. The final part of your new dental implant is the prosthetic tooth that is fastened to the abutment.
Not all dentists are able to perform dental implant procedures. Dentists who specialize in restorative dentistry can perform a dental implant procedure on patients. In order to begin a dental implant, our dentist will make a cut along the gum so they can gain access to your jawbone. Then they drill a hole into your jawbone to place the implant screw. After they place the screw, our dentist will close up the incision, and then you need to wait for your jawbone to heal. As your jawbone heals, new bone grows around the implant screw, making it a permanent part of your jawbone. Most implanted dental screws take between three and six months to fully heal.
After your initial dental implant screw heals, our dentist will place the abutment on top of the dental screw to ready it for your prosthetic tooth. After a couple of weeks of healing time, our dentist places your brand new prosthetic tooth on the abutment, and you have a brand new implant to show off your smile.
The Difference Between Single-Tooth Dental Implants and Multiple-Tooth Dental Implants
A single tooth implant can either be one tooth that you have replaced or more than one tooth in scattered locations throughout your upper and lower jaws. All single-tooth implants are the same: A three-part replacement for your missing tooth that consists of a screw, abutment, and your new prosthetic tooth.
Multiple-tooth dental implants are a bit different. Instead of one dental screw placed in your jaw, you may have between two and four dental screws to hold a permanent bridge rather than a single tooth. Your new permanent bridge will have a base, usually made of acrylic or plastic, with porcelain teeth attached. The healing time in your jaw after the dentist places the screws and the time they place the abutment may be a little longer than six months because you have to wait for all of the jawbone to heal completely. Also, while you can have several single-tooth dental implants done at the same time, you usually cannot have several multiple-tooth dental implants completed simultaneously. Another difference between single and multiple-tooth implants is that the size of multiple-tooth implants varies depending on the number of teeth you have lost. You can choose to have all of your teeth replaced by multiple tooth implants.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
If you are a good candidate for dental implant procedures, most of your implants can last throughout your life — with some exceptions. Your dental screws and abutments, because they are made of either zirconium or titanium metal, are light and strong, and in general, they do not corrode or cause allergic reactions, which means they can last a lifetime. However, you may need to replace the prosthetic tooth every couple of decades. That is because your prosthetic tooth is made of porcelain or ceramic and can crack, chip, or break. They also wear out over time.
How would you know if you are a good candidate for dental implants? There are a few conditions that might prevent you from getting implants. One of the primary reasons you may not be a good candidate for dental implants is that you use tobacco. Many dentists will want you to quit smoking, vaping, or chewing before they perform a dental implant procedure. Nicotine users have an increased risk of gum disease, and nicotine dries out their mouths, which leads to elevated chances of getting periodontal disease.
If you already have periodontal disease, you need to talk to our dentist to see if you can get dental implants. Periodontal disease is a gum infection, and the main reason dental implants fail is because of infection. Also, gum disease can lead to bone loss in your jawbone, which makes implants more difficult to place. You will want to have your gum disease controlled before you get dental implants.
People who care for their implants successfully know they need to brush and floss their teeth at least twice a day, just as they do their natural teeth. You will want to check with our dentist to get recommendations for types of toothpaste (non-abrasive), toothbrushes, and implant-safe floss. Also, be sure that you are not chewing overly hard foods, such as steak or nuts, or overly sticky foods, such as gum or caramel, with your implants. If you take care of your dental implants, you will not need to replace those teeth again for a lifetime.
What If I Need More Information About Dental Implants?
Now that you know more about dental implants, you may want to know if you are a good candidate. If you are interested in talking to our dentists about dental implants, why not reach out to Peak Endodontics at 425-358-9033. We would like to set you up with an appointment as soon as possible.
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