How Long Will A Dental Implant Last?

Implants are well known to be a long lasting option for replacing a missing tooth.

Losing a tooth or a number of teeth can be devastating, especially if it leaves a visible gap in our smile. This is just one of the most obvious reasons why people look around at the different tooth replacement methods that are available when they find themselves in this situation. It is largely true that dentures are still one of the most popular choices and there are some solid reasons for this. Dentures often don’t require any invasive treatment and they are less expensive than the other options available.

This is short term thinking though and dentures not only are less stable than other options but are also a little on the awkward side for cleaning and also are likely to need repairs and adjustments over time. The cheaper option then can require you making a number of visits to the dentist over the years, adding to their cost and having to put up with the other inconveniences that can occur.

If you lose the tooth not too late in life, this could be your life for some time yet. There is one option though that negates all these issues and that is the dental implant.

So how long do dental implants really last?

You will have read, in previous Blue Sky Dental blogs about how implants can last for twenty years or more if they are looked after correctly. While this is true, it is also a case of ‘how long is a piece of string’ . For example, the very first teeth implants were placed in 1965 and lasted for over forty years. While we can’t guarantee that yours will last this long, there are a number of things that will maximise their chances of lasting as long as possible.

Don’t smoke

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do if you hope to retain your implants for as long as possible. Periodontitis (and peri-implantitis) are responsible for probably the most dental implant loss. This is usually caused by bacteria damaging the bone which holds the implant securely in place. When this starts to weaken, the implant works loose and often comes out. If you notice any looseness at all with your implant, you should contact our Chelmsford dental clinic to have it checked.

Brush and floss well

This is perhaps obvious, but we occasionally hear of people who think that because the implant is artificial that they don’t need to brush it as it won’t decay. This is true of course, but, as we have seen above, gum disease is a real threat to even long established implants, and neglecting to clean around the gums in that area is asking for trouble. You should clean your dental implant as you would a natural tooth, and using floss to clean between them is strongly recommended too. Finally, make sure to keep a regular appointment with our hygienist for a professional clean as well. This is usually every six months unless otherwise suggested.

Choosing the right dentist

One thing we perhaps should have mentioned earlier is how important it is to make sure that your dentist is suitably qualified to place dental implants. In the UK, this is straightforward to do as any dentist registered with the General Dental Council, as any legitimate one will be, has strict regulations surrounding this and additional years of training are required in order to be able to carry out this procedure. Where things become more ‘murky’ is if you choose to have this done abroad where regulation and experience may differ. While it may be a cheaper option (at least initially), there are real risks to this and your implants may not only fail, but could leave you with an expensive bill to correct things, along with a degree of pain as well. For these reasons, we strongly recommend that you don’t opt for cheaper implants abroad and use a recognised implant dentist such as our own at Blue Sky Dental.

Finally …

Teeth implants are often recognised as the ‘gold standard’ of tooth replacement methods and are certainly the most secure and stable option that is currently available. The treatment is usually a ‘one off’ that requires little professional intervention afterwards other than a clean which you should have anyway with your natural teeth.  While generally accepted to last for at least twenty years providing that they are cared for, the reality is that they very often last longer than this. There are too many factors involved in this to generalise but, as suggested above for example, someone who looks after them and doesn’t smoke etc, is likely to get more years use from them than someone who does the opposite.

The answer to the longevity question then is that, providing you use a UK dentist and follow their aftercare guidance, how long your implants last is largely down to you.

If you would like to find out more about having dental implants placed and to see if you are a suitable candidate for them, arranging to have an initial consultation at our Chelmsford implant clinic is the best place to start. You can do this by calling us today on 01245 211070.