Losing a tooth, whether due to gum disease, tooth decay, or an accidental injury, can be a painful experience. If one of the front teeth is lost, it will have a significant impact on one’s appearance and smile. On the other hand, losing one of the back teeth can affect one’s ability to chew and digest food. Therefore, it is essential to get your missing teeth replaced as soon as possible.
If you have also lost one or more teeth and are thinking about getting dental implants, you might have concerns about their durability and function. If you have been searching for information about dental implants on the internet and have not been able to find what you’re looking for, this article is for you. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about dental implants as a tooth replacement option.
How Long Does A Dental Implant Last?
Dental implants are by far the most durable option available for replacing missing teeth. Various research studies have shown the extensive clinical life span of dental implants compared with other tooth replacement options like fixed bridges and removable dentures. For example, a 2019 systematic review of 18 studies on implant survival rates, published in the Journal of Dentistry, showed dental implants to have a 10-year survival rate of over 96.4%. Similarly, according to the American Dental Association, dental implants can last for a lifetime if we properly care for them.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Well-Treated Dental Implant?
Dental implants are made from medical-grade titanium, making them highly safe and durable. However, the lifespan of dental implants does not solely depend on their strength; it also depends on the health and density of the jawbone that is supporting them. While dental implants have been shown to last a lifetime, poor oral health, gum disease, and plaque deposition around the implant prosthesis and the gums can significantly reduce their clinical service lifetime.
Do Fake Teeth Ever Give Any Trouble?
When it comes to missing tooth replacement, there are several options available, such as teeth bridges, removable dentures, and implant-supported prostheses. Whether your false teeth will cause any problem in the future depends on various factors, such as the type of the false teeth and your oral hygiene status. While removable dentures and teeth bridges have a limited lifespan, dental implants tend to last for a long time, sometimes throughout life. Also, you may experience more problems with your false teeth if you do not maintain optimal oral hygiene or have underlying dental issues like gum disease and tooth decay.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Among all tooth replacement options, dental implants have the highest success rate. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, dental implants have a success rate of more than 95%. However, it must be kept in mind that the success rate of dental implants is highly dependent on the skill and expertise of the dentist. Successful implant placement requires thorough treatment planning and surgical precision. That is why you must always visit a qualified and experienced dentist when getting your teeth replaced with implants.
How Long Will It Be Before Dental Implants Feel Normal?
It is not uncommon to feel slight discomfort, swelling and pain following implant placement. However, this is nothing to worry about; these are signs of inflammation and indicate that healing is taking place. Over a period of a few weeks, this pain and swelling will go away, and your implants will start to feel normal. To accelerate the healing process, you may apply ice packs over the affected side of the face and eat a soft diet.
Can A Dental Implant Fall Out?
The success of dental implants depends on their ability to embed themselves within the jawbone. While dental implants get firmly anchored in the jawbone in most cases and support the artificial teeth, there are cases when plaque and tartar deposit around the soft tissues and the implant prostheses leads to inflammation. This condition, called peri-implantitis, destroys the jawbone supporting the implant, making the implant lose. If the condition is not treated timely, the implant may ultimately fall off.
Are Dental Bridges Permanent?
Dental implants are the next best thing to natural teeth. Besides offering natural aesthetics and optimal dental functions, dental implants tend to last for a lifetime, provided they are looked after properly. So, yes, dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement solution.
How Are Dental Implants Better Than Bridges?
Dental bridges require the removal of healthy tooth structures from the supporting teeth on either side for their attachment. Hence, teeth bridges are not tooth conservative. On the other hand, dental implants are embedded directly within the jawbone, and therefore, do not require the sacrifice of natural tooth structure. Besides, teeth bridges have a limited lifespan, while dental implants can last a lifetime.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Dental Implants?
Dental implants offer several benefits over other tooth replacement options like bridges and removable dentures. Some of these include:
- Lifelong durability
- Excellent success rate – more than 95%
- Tooth conservative – no need for tooth removal
- Naturally pleasant aesthetics
- Restoration of chewing and speech function
- No dietary restriction
- Do not cause bone loss, unlike removable dentures
- No risk of adverse effects or allergic reactions
Although dental implants have been shown to last for a lifetime, their clinical service life depends primarily on the dentist’s skills. So, if you have one or more teeth that need replacement with implants, you should consider Newham Dental for all your dental needs. Why? Because we have one of the best dentists in town along with state-of-the-art equipment – so that we can offer top-class dental services to our esteemed patients. So, what are you waiting for? Request a new appointment here and walk away with a smile you have always longed for.
