If you’re missing any adult teeth, you may be interested in dental implants to replace them. Dental implants are considered a permanent solution to tooth loss because the titanium implant posts are securely affixed to the jawbone for life. But that doesn’t mean you can just forget about your oral health or neglect the exposed parts of your prosthetics. Here’s how long you can expect your dental implants to last, and what you can do to ensure they don’t fail.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
While the dental implants themselves will last a lifetime with proper care, the individual pieces that attach to them may eventually need to be replaced. Your complete restoration is comprised of several parts: the implant, the crown, and the abutment. The crowns (teeth) are durable and strong; however, they may still need to be replaced in about 15 to 20 years. Depending on wear and tear, you may never need to replace the abutments either, but occasionally they may need to be redone, especially if you don’t take good care of your oral health and your crowns.
How Can I Ensure My Dental Implants Last?
To keep your dental implants secure and in great condition, even though they’re prosthetic it’s important that you take care of them as you would your natural teeth. Though they hage a 95 percent success rate, it is still possible for your dental implants to fail if you don’t maintain your oral hygiene.
This means you’ll need to brush them twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste, floss them daily, and visit your dentist twice a year for your regular, semi-annual exam and cleaning. Furthermore, never use your prosthetics or your real teeth for anything but chewing food. Don’t tear open packaging with them, bite your fingernails, or chew on toothpicks or pen caps, as this can damage the crowns.
Remember, dental implants were designed to restore your smile permanently, but unless you commit to your oral health and hygiene, they can fail or become damaged. Thankfully, caring for these prosthetics is very easy, and with proper maintenance they can last for many years.
About Our Practice
At The Smile Standard, keeping our patients happy is part of the job! That’s why we offer a variety of dental treatments that will help provide you with a healthy, beautiful smile for a lifetime. If you’re missing permanent teeth and are looking for a durable, lasting solution, dental implants may be right for you. If you’d like to learn more about them and if you qualify for this life-changing restoration, please visit our website or call us today at 847-882-8387.