How long a dental implant lasts is a question that is important to those who have had a dental implant placed or are just considering this treatment option as part of their tooth restoration.
When talking about timeframe, the first thing to do is to distinguish between the terms “warranty” and “lifetime” of the titanium rod. A warranty is a time period during which the patient can have the artificial tooth serviced or replaced free of charge. The manufacturer provides a warranty for its product. It is valid with proper use, care and regular checkups with the dentist. Manufacturers provide warranties for varying lengths of time – from 25 years to a lifetime warranty. The warranty from the dentist is set by the clinic. As a rule, it is valid for 1-2 years and covers the work performed by the specialist.
What does the lifespan of a dental implant depend on?
Implant life is unlimited and depends on the following factors:
- Volume, bone density in the implantation area.
- The thickness and level of the alveolar ridge.
- The structure of the gingival tissue.
- Location of the implant in the jaw.
- Biological compatibility of the dental implant materials with the patient’s tissues.
- Compliance with the titanium rod placement protocol.
- Proper oral care, compliance with the doctor’s recommendations during the rehabilitation period and periodic visits to the dentist.
A dental implant can last for several years, a period of 10 to 20 years, or even a lifetime. It is extremely rare that an artificial tooth root serves for less than three years. This may be due to poor-quality installation or failure to observe the principles of hygiene and recommendations of the doctor. In the postoperative period, careless attitude to the rules of hygiene is fraught with multiplication and accumulation of pathogenic bacteria on the surface of the titanium rod, which leads to rejection of the implant. According to statistics, the second case occurs more often than the first.
The service life of a dental implant also depends on the individual characteristics of the body. For example, most elderly people develop osteoporosis (bones become brittle), which leads to the gradual loosening and falling out of the structure. There are also problems with implants in people with diabetes. Diabetics have a disrupted endocrine system. This leads to slower tissue regeneration. There are also some difficulties in patients with bad habits. Smoking disrupts peripheral blood circulation in the tissues of the oral cavity – they become weaker, which increases their vulnerability to infections. Abuse of alcoholic beverages also does not best affect the body’s ability to resist various infections.
It is important to visit a dental clinic immediately in case of any problems or discomfort – in this way it will be possible to identify the problem in time, optimize the implant healing and increase the service life of the dental implant.