Dental implants are among of the greatest treatments in modern dentistry. They are true replacement teeth, comprised of an artificial tooth root with a porcelain crown on top. Implants have become increasingly popular in Australia, with one study showing that more than 50% of Australian dentists now perform them.
While implants are increasingly popular, they are also a relatively expensive treatment, which is why it seems fair to ask: how long do dental implants last?
My Local Dentists West Ryde is happy to share the good news that in many cases they can be expected to last a lifetime.
Dental Implants: Built To Last.
Dental implants are typically made of titanium, a biocompatible material that is accepted by the body and serves as a strong and sturdy foundation for replacement teeth. Your natural bone locks the implant into place by fusing, or attaching itself, to the implant. This process, known as osseointegration, gives teeth replaced using implants the stability and strength to support replacement teeth, withstand daily use, and function like regular teeth.
Tooth implants have been used successfully for decades. In fact, the first patient to receive modern implants had them until death, a period of 40 years! Your implants should last for a very long time, from 25 years to a lifetime.
How Dental Implants Help Your Jawbone Last!
When a tooth root is absent, bone that has been supporting it will disintegrate or deteriorate. This is called bone resorption and can result in severely reduced dental functions like biting and chewing.
Also, a missing tooth is, simply, unattractive. If bone loss is allowed to go on, which naturally occurs when an entire tooth is totally lost, it can result in collapsing facial features, loss of lip support, and the deepening of wrinkles about the mouth. The look of the nose can become beaked as the chin and nose appear to tilt inwards toward each other and come closer together.
One of the advantages of dental implants is that bone can be saved by the replacement of absent tooth roots. Bone will form a powerful attachment to implants, and as they osseo-integrate they function as a normal root would. The implants provide a strong base that allows for a natural, healthy biting and chewing. Implants stimulate bone, causing the bone to secure the implants in position. This also results in a restoration of the facial features, boosting self-confidence and quality of life.
So, not only do implants last a very long time, they also help your jaw and good looks to last a very long time!
What Can You Do To Make Your Implants Last?
Smoking. This is one of the greatest risks for implant-related complications. You should try to quit smoking.
Oral Hygiene. Careful attention to your oral hygiene every day is important for the survival of your implant.
Here are a few tips to help:
- Brush and floss thoroughly the area where your teeth implants are
- Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash
- Schedule thrice a year visit to your West Ryde dentist
- Avoid toothpaste that contains abrasive ingredients like baking soda as it can remove the glaze on your implants
Routine Maintenance. Visiting your dental practice for regular checkups (recalls) is just as important. You and your dental team have to decide how often these visits should take place, but they are usually at intervals of 3 to 6 months. At these visits, your implants, teeth, and gums are checked and professionally cleaned, including the areas you cannot reach at home. Professional cleaning of implants is more complex than cleaning teeth, which means that it takes longer and may require special instruments.
How Does My Local Dentists West Ryde Treat Dental Implants?
Your My Local Dentists West Ryde dentists will take care of your dental implants during your regularly scheduled checkups. To accurately assess the health of your implant, dentists and hygienists need to probe and measure the gums around the implant just the same way they would for natural teeth, check and compare X-rays annually, look for looseness, check the bite and check all of the components that are attached to the implants to make sure that they are functioning properly.
If you are interested in dental implants, My Local Dentists West Rydehas good news. We are currently offering a FREE consultation to all patients who think they might benefit from dental implants.
My Local Dentists West Ryde Advantage
At My Local Dentists West Ryde, our service and our dentures are 100% personalised for you. All our dentists are highly motivated and accredited practitioners with graduate degrees from the University of Sydney. As well as the dentists, the supporting staff at My Local Dentists West Ryde are highly dedicated and experienced to ensure each visit with us is comfortable as possible.
Call us on (02) 9809 7000 or simply request your appointment online today!