Dental implants have the appearance, feel and function of natural teeth, and this allows them to act just like natural teeth. People who used to have gaps in their mouths due to lost teeth can smile with confidence after dental implant surgery. They can also return to eating and speaking normally without difficulty.How long do Dental Implants last?
One of the benefits of dental implants is that they last a very long time. Many people say that dental implants last for twenty-five years or more. This is true, provided that the owner properly cares for them by brushing and flossing twice a day and coming in for dental check-ups twice a year. Patients with dental implants must also avoid opening things with their teeth and chewing hard objects such as ice cubes or pens. The patient's lifestyle habits and overall health also plays a part.
How long do Dental Implants last if Bone Grafting is needed?
Out of all the people who get dental implants, less than ten percent require minimally invasive bone grafts to boost the density and strength of their jaw bone. Bone mass in the jaw is usually lost due to infections, diseases, injury, or tooth loss. Bone grafts are the most effective means of bringing your jaw bone back to optimal health so you can enjoy long-lasting dental implants.
Types of Bone Grafts
We offer four main types of bone grafts for patients who need dental implants:
| • | Autogenous grafts are the most common type of bone grafting technique. For this procedure, we remove a few small bone grafts from your hip, since the bones there are rich in the marrow and offer lots of bone cells. |
| • | Allografts use a human donor to provide the bone grafts instead of getting the bone from your own body. |
| • | Xenografts take bone from an animal (most often a cow) instead of a human. This bone is fully compatible with your anatomy and bone composition. |
| • | Alloplastic bone grafts don't use natural bone. These are synthetic, calcium phosphate bone grafts that are either resorbable or non-resorbable. |
What causes Dental Implants to Fail?
Even though implants are made from titanium, they can still bend or break. However, thanks to advances in medical and dental science, this doesn't occur as much today as it did in years past. Implants can get cracked or fractured if they experience excess force, like teeth grinding or a facial injury.
Replacing a Failed Implant
If one of your implants ends up failing, get it to us right away, and we can most likely save it. Amir Marashi, MD, DDS, FACS will then rebuild the bone and gum tissue around the implant. We typically need to remove the implant so the area can heal and recover.
Once the healing is completed and the affected area is ready, Amir Marashi, MD, DDS, FACS can try to put in a new implant. You may need a bone graft to serve as a foundation and improve the success rate of the new implant. If the second implant also fails, it could indicate an allergic reaction or the bone density is not suitable for implants. However, it is very rare for an implant to fail twice like this. For more information, check out our Dental Implant FAQ page and contact our office today.
