The lifespan of dental implants depends on many factors, including oral care regimen, general health of the patient, location of the implant, quality and type of material used for the implant. Normally, dental implants can last up to 25 years, even a lifetime if properly cared for.
1. Outstanding advantages of dental implants
Implants have the following outstanding advantages:
1.1. Restore aesthetics and chewing ability
Implant teeth are composed of 3 parts including Implant pillar, Abutment joint and porcelain crown. In which, the Implant pillar will act as an artificial tooth root firmly inserted into the jaw bone. The Implant pillar has the function of supporting the porcelain crown attached above through the Abutment joint.
Thanks to its structure similar to a real tooth in shape, color and size, it will be very difficult to distinguish which is a real tooth. Not only that, Implant teeth also have the ability to withstand 5 times more force than real teeth, so customers can comfortably eat their favorite foods without worrying about broken or cracked teeth.
1.2. Prevent jaw bone loss
The Implant pillar will be inserted deep into the jaw bone to replace the lost real tooth root. This pillar plays a role in transmitting force to help the jawbone develop normally and stably, preventing jawbone loss leading to other serious complications.
1.3. Implant teeth have a long life span
The most outstanding advantage of Implant teeth is their ability to last a long time thanks to their unique characteristics. When the Implant pillar is firmly integrated into the jawbone, its life span can be extended to decades or even forever.
1.4. Cost savings
Usually, customers only need to implant teeth once when losing teeth without having to perform any other solutions, so it will save a lot more money than other tooth restoration methods that have to be redone many times.
2. Factors affecting the longevity of dental implants
The longevity of dental implants is often determined by the following factors:
2.1. Doctor’s skills
The doctor’s skills are an important factor in determining the success of the surgery and the longevity of dental implants. Dental implants are a relatively difficult restoration technique, so not all doctors can do it, but need specialized training to ensure safety and bring the best results.
To prolong the life of the implant, the implant placement must be completely precise and meticulous. The more experienced the doctor is, the more likely he will be able to anticipate possible risks, thereby providing timely treatment measures to ensure the effectiveness of the implant.
2.2. Implant pillar quality
The implant pillar plays an important role in prolonging the life of the implant. Therefore, the pillar used must be of genuine origin and clearly inspected according to standards before being put into use. From there, the new bone integration process can take place smoothly and quickly, and the new implant pillar can exist firmly in the jawbone.
2.3. Jawbone condition
Before implanting the implant, the doctor will perform a general examination to make sure the jawbone is strong and qualified for dental implants. When the jawbone has enough density and depth, the implant can adhere firmly, otherwise the implant will be quickly rejected.
2.4. Implant technology
The entire implant process from examination, consultation to minor surgery requires the support of many different devices. Therefore, dental clinics must be fully equipped with modern machinery and technology while meeting sterile and sterilization conditions to ensure the success of the implant and prolong the life of the implant.
2.5. Post-implantation dental care process
Oral care as well as diet after implantation also greatly affect the life of the implant. Customers need to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions during the healing stage. In particular, absolutely do not arbitrarily use painkillers or antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription to avoid dangerous complications for oral health.
3. How long does an implant last?
Thanks to the outstanding advantages listed above, dental implants are a very popular tooth restoration method and are trusted by many customers of all ages. Unlike the porcelain bridge method, when a tooth is lost, the customer only needs to implant the tooth once and does not have to replace it because the life of the implant can be up to 25 years and even a lifetime if properly cared for.
4. Why do dental implants have a long lifespan?
Dental implants have a very long lifespan thanks to the following outstanding characteristics:
4.1. The implant post is integrated into the jawbone
The implant post will be inserted deep inside, creating a tight connection with the jawbone and acting as a replacement for the lost real tooth root. The implant post and the jawbone need to go through the bone integration process to be able to exist together firmly and stably.
4.2. Titanium material
The implant is made from 100% pure Titanium and is not mixed with other impurities. This is one of the least corrosive and most durable metals, so it is widely used in medicine today. Titanium is a material that has been tested to be safe, benign and does not cause any effects on oral health. At the same time, it promotes the bone integration process to take place more quickly thanks to its high biocompatibility.
4.3. Less broken
The implant in the jawbone is much stronger than a natural tooth and is not easily broken. However, the porcelain crown on top can still break if it is subjected to too much pressure during chewing.
5. Notes to prolong the life of dental implants
For the implant to last the longest in the jawbone, customers should note the following:
5.1. Pay attention to the time of implantation
According to experts, the most ideal time to implant a tooth is about 1 month after tooth loss. The reason is because at this time the wound has just healed and the jawbone has not weakened or disappeared, making the implantation process much more favorable and easier.
5.2. Choosing a reputable dental clinic
Choosing to have dental implants performed at reputable dental clinics will ensure the effectiveness of the implant as well as long-term use thanks to proper technique. In addition, the team of experienced doctors and specialists at these dental clinics provide maximum precision in minor surgery, not only bringing high efficiency but also avoiding dangerous complications.
5.3. Using genuine Implant pillars
Each line of Implants on the market today has a different warranty period, but to ensure longevity, the important factor is to use genuine implants that have been clearly tested for quality.
Some popular and famous Implant lines include: Straumann Implant (Switzerland), Neodent Implant (Switzerland), Nobel Biocare Implant (USA), Osstem Implant (Korea),…
5.4. Proper oral care
To keep the Implant on the jaw longer, customers also need to pay attention to daily oral care. Note that in the first 3 days after implant placement, do not use a toothbrush to clean the oral cavity and avoid rinsing with salt water to avoid affecting the healing speed.
After that time, customers can perform oral hygiene as usual, can combine the use of dental floss to remove all food debris in the teeth, limit bacteria from entering and attacking unhealed wounds.
5.5. Reasonable diet
Although it provides the same chewing ability as real teeth, customers still need to limit hard, tough foods, … to avoid creating large chewing force when newly implanted teeth because at this time the teeth are not really stable. At the same time, supplementing many vitamins and minerals found in natural foods helps increase resistance, promoting the bone integration process to take place faster.
So, with the role of completely replacing a real tooth from aesthetics to chewing function, the Implant tooth is firmly integrated into the jaw bone and has a lifespan of up to 25 years. To ensure the longevity of the Implant tooth, the implant technique must be absolutely precise, meticulous and without any errors. That is why customers should choose to perform Implant surgery at dental facilities with a team of highly trained and experienced doctors to achieve the best results!