“Dental implants are not just tooth replacement- it’s a commitment to long-term health. Our mouth is a gateway for bacteria, germs, in short, an unhealthy life.”
Dentistry has been revolutionised, as it not only offers an aesthetically pleasing personality, but also healthy teeth with functional resilience. This might be shocking for you, but your dental implants can last up to 25 years.
Yes, you might have heard from your friends or know, “Man, my implants don’t last very long”. This might give you a clue whether you should go for it or not.
It is time to clear the conundrum and truly understand the hidden link between dental implants and longevity.
Lifespan of dental implants
Often, these last up to 5 to 25 years, but require proper hygiene, care, nutrition, and regular check-ups. Titanium and zirconium are highly biocompatible materials that offer longevity to your dental implants for an extended period. These play a role as an artificial tooth root, and handle the load while chewing or adapt to the mouth’s environment.
While the fixture might not need a replacement, the crown needs greater attention. These are the most visible portions of the treatment and might start to tear and wear over time. Although their lifespan ranges between 3 and 15 years, your habits play a crucial role.
Factors that influence longevity
- Bone quality and density- strong bone influences the treatment, as it offers stability, and influences 30% of longevity.
- Oral hygiene- proper hygiene prevents peri-implantitis and infection and affects the lifespan of dental implants with 20% rate.
- Surgical procedure- if the process is effective, then it increases the chances of longevity by 25%.
- Lifestyle- substance use decreases the rate of success by 8%, as this reduces the flow of blood, making it difficult for implants to stay.
- Health condition- diabetes or osteoporosis has the ability to impair the healing process, decreasing the lifespan by 10%.
- Design and material used- they influence the overall longevity by 7%. Out of all the materials, Titanium and Zirconium are highly superior to others.
But what is the science behind the longevity?
Let’s talk about the main point, which is highly responsible for increasing the lifespan of dental implants.
The longevity of the dental implants lies behind the process called osseointegration. A process that is used to make a direct, structural, and functional connection between the living bone and the surface that will take the load of the implant. This is crucial, as this mimics the root of natural teeth, ensuring stability and strength.
Before implant, a series of integrations is done, like initial stability, bone remodelling, where the surrounding bones start to remodel, and maturation, where the bone implant becomes stronger and stable. Between 2% to 5% people face the issue of osseointegration, leading to implant failure. Also, the bone density of the patient plays an important role in the longevity of dental implants.
Surprising connection to longevity
As of now, we know the science behind it; let’s jump into the factors that are responsible.
- Jawbone structure- this is important for a strong foundation for dental implants, like natural teeth. Sometimes the dentist proceeds with bone grafting to make a sufficient or stronger base. NIH revealed that more than 50% of Americans have osteoporosis, and if you are one of them, then start taking care of your health more seriously.
- Nutrition- a diet should be balanced with Vitamins, Calcium, Protein, and Zinc. These help in maintaining bone density, help in recovering fast from surgery, support cell division and tissue regeneration, and reduce inflammation. But if you are already living an unhealthy life, then it can directly hamper your dental implant treatment. A study revealed that Vitamin D deficiency is one of the highest contributing factors in the failure of dental treatment.
- Health conditions- diabetes, osteoporosis, weakened immune system, high blood pressure, or other cardiovascular disorders increase the risk of failure by increasing the risk of infection, bone fusion, and suppressing the success through immunosuppressive medications.
- Material used and design- titanium is one of the best materials that adapts to the environment and handles the torture that you put on your teeth, and also protects from the reduced risk of fracture. Those that are made using layer-microtextured grooves show a long-term survival rate and decreased risk of peri-implantitis. Moreover, if the quality of material decreases, the chance of fracture, tear, and wear increases.
What can you do to increase the success rate?
First, it is better to go with an expert who ensures the success of treatment. But also remember, there are things that need to be done which increase longevity. –
- Patient who have a high propensity for maintaining excellent oral hygiene experience greater longevity in their dental implants.
- Make sure to adopt a healthy diet and reduce foods that are sticky or cracker-like.
- Visit your dentist for regular check-ups, as they will let you know about the condition.
Why choose Elite Dental Group for dental implants?
Most of the patients are concerned about the cost, complexity, and accessibility of dental implant treatment. Elite Dental Group understands every concern of every patient. They offer comprehensive care, cutting-edge technologies for treatment, cost-effective treatments, and a patient-centred approach by the staff. Dental implants should be done by the hands of highly professional individuals, because it is not possible to go for this procedure within a gap of 2 to three years. Right?
Moreover, apart from dental implants, Elite offers a number of treatments that help people achieve their dream smile. What are you waiting for?
Book your appointment today!