What is the Lifespan of Dental Implants?
The most often asked question by patience is how long dental implants last. The lifespan of dental implants makes sense because it’s a key factor to consider when waiting for the implants against other potential alternatives.
Your dentist will advise you that when you take care of your implants, they will last around 25 years.
What are Dental Implants?
These are artificial or prosthetic teeth. They feel and look like your natural teeth and are long-lasting.
Our qualified dentist in Winter Haven installs your implants via surgery. Once in place, the implants function and are maintained the same way as your natural teeth. They are versatile and durable.
Reasons for Dental Implants
At Winter Haven Dental, we use dental implants to replace your missing teeth. There are several reasons to get dental implants, including:
- To replace all of your missing teeth
- For supporting dentures
- To replace one or several missing teeth
After you undergo tooth extraction, dental implants are put directly into your jawbone. They act as artificial screw-like posts that help replace the root of a missing tooth.
How Dental Implants Work
First, a dentist near you prepares your gums for the procedure with local anesthesia or sedation. Next, they’ll make an incision into your gums. They’ll then insert your dental implant into the jawbone. Finally, your dentist closes the incision with sutures.
After a healing period called osseointegration, where your bone fuses with the dental implant, your implant process is complete. This normally takes several months. Afterward, your dentist places a custom-made crown at the top of your dental implant to create a permanent restoration.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants in Winter Haven have several benefits that include:
Won’t Get Cavities
Artificial teeth need to be cared for to prevent bacteria from building up in the mouth and causing infections. However, dental implant material doesn’t decay. Therefore, one will never have to worry about getting cavities in their dental implants.
Prevents Bone Loss
When one loses teeth, they also tend to lose bone mass in their jaw. This is because the jawbone needs stimulation when teeth connect to maintain the mass. Implants are the only teeth replacement process that helps replace jawbone stimulation. This helps prevent bone loss.
Matches Your Natural Teeth
Dental implants exist in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Your dentist works with you to design dental implants that match the color of your natural teeth. It also fits perfectly in the gap.
It Helps Restore Bite Force
Dental implants are anchored into the jaw with a titanium post that replaces your tooth root. This allows you to bite with less or more the same amount of force one could use with their natural teeth. Other tooth replacement methods don’t restore nearly as much of your bite force because they sit on top of your gums and are not anchored in place.
A Permanent Solution to Tooth Loss
Other teeth replacement options need to be replaced and repaired periodically. But implants are made to last for a lifetime.
If you need to replace your teeth, you should consider dental implants.
How to Extend the Life of Your Dental Implants
There are many different ways to make your implants last longer. They include:
- Proper oral hygiene: How well one cares for and maintains their dental implants and natural teeth affects how long and well the implants will last.
- How one uses teeth: You should never bite on a hard object as your dental implants can chip or break and require replacing.
- Location of the implant: Dental implants in the back of your mouth receive more pressure, meaning that an implant in the back fails quicker.
The Lifespan of Dental Implants
Dental implants have a lifespan of approximately 25 years which is longer than most alternatives.
However, the actual lifespan of your dental implant is influenced by factors such as:
- Diet and lifestyle
- Oral hygiene practices
- Your dentist
- The implant location in the mouth
You’ll expect your dental implants to last the longest if you practice good oral hygiene. This includes flossing, brushing twice daily, and getting regular dental care from a dentist near you.
Also, when a skilled dentist installs your dental implants, they last longer than those installed by a less capable dentist. Therefore, selecting a skilled dental professional when getting dental implants is always important.