How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

The Longevity and Security of Implant Placement

With dental implants becoming increasingly popular; inevitably, the same questions come up quite regularly which is understandable. The two most common questions that we get asked are how much do they cost and how long do they last.

Regarding prices, as these may change over time, we suggest that you look at the relevant page of our website for the latest dental implant costs along with our promise that we always try to provide good quality with value for money.

As for longevity, there are a number of factors which can contribute to this and warrant further discussion.

Quality Dental Implants

At the Darren Bywater Dental Implant Centre in Derby, we use only the best dental implants. These are made from titanium and are finely engineered pieces of equipment. Although it is an expensive material, titanium is the only metal currently suitable for this procedure as it is the only one which fuses correctly with the bone in the jaw, creating a very firm grip on it that will not come loose over time provided it has been placed correctly by a professional.

Professional Implantologist

It is also important, to ensure the success of a dental implant, that a fully qualified dentist is chosen to perform the procedure. Having access to the latest in x-ray and scanning equipment means that the exact placement of the implant is guaranteed and this, as well as the quality of the implant, will contribute to its longevity.

Some people may be tempted, by special offers and may head off abroad for their dental implants. We would advise against this for a number of reasons. Whilst it is true that there are many good dentists abroad, it can be very difficult to determine who is and who isn’t. Qualifications will also vary from country to country and unless you speak the language very fluently indeed, then you are likely to struggle to find a high quality implant dentist to carry out the procedure. It should also be borne in mind that as these dentists are constantly looking to cut their costs, the quality of the implants themselves may be inferior which may cause problems down the line.

General Health Issues

Another key factor in the longevity of dental implants is the patient’s overall health. Diseases such as diabetes may cause potential problems and diabetics should discuss their case with the dentist before going ahead with the procedure. Smokers too, run a significant risk of causing problems for dental implants due to the increased risk of infection in the mouth, and therefore higher risk of gum disease, which may also affect the bone that the implant is placed into if not treated early on.

In a healthy patient though, dental implants generally last for around 20 – 25 years though of course, there are thousands of factors that may affect this; for example, someone who participates in sport may possibly receive injuries that weaken the jaw bone, others may regularly grind their teeth and whilst these may not immediately affect the implant, they could have a long term effect on how long they last.

Cost vs. Longevity

Given that an implant is likely to last 20 years or more, the cost factor seems less important. Although it may appear to be a significant initial outlay, if this cost is spread over the period of time that an implant should last, the economies of scale start to look much more affordable and the cost of having a full set of teeth something well worth considering.

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