When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are becoming a very popular option. People wonder about their longevity versus the other option for replacing missing teeth – dentures.
Dental implants are tough – but they are not invincible. Here are some things people should know about before determining how long do dental implants last?
Parts of A Dental Implant
To fully understand what can last with a dental implant, it’s important to know the components that will go with the process. They are as follows:
- Titanium Screw – The dentist cleans out the area around where the tooth will be replaced. This is done after ensuring that the patient’s jawbone has enough mass to hold the implant. The screw will then fuse with the jawbone in a process called ossification.
- Abutment – Once the ossification – which occurs over several weeks – is finished, the dentist puts an abutment, which holds the implant in place. It looks like a smaller tooth that can then take the next part.
- Replacement tooth- the replacement tooth, which is often a crown, is put on.
Location of the Implant
When it comes to real estate, it’s all about location. The same can be said about dental implants. If the implant is placed in the back of the mouth, the patient is going to have to be a lot more careful about biting, since that’s the part that generates the most force. This might make it structurally weaker than if it was in the front of the mouth.
Jaw Health
As mentioned earlier, the jawbone has to have enough mass in it to hold the implant. This is because the patient will be putting a lot of pressure on it with chewing and if the bone is too thin or hollow, the implant can’t be sustained.
If the dentist finds that there is not enough mass, they may try a bone graft to build up the area. If that doesn’t work, they may consider mini implants. It may turn out that dentures are the best option.
Food Types
While people with dental implants are not as limited with their food choices as denture wearers, they still need to make wise decisions. They would be prudent to not bite down on hard candy, since the replacement tooth is not as strong as a natural tooth.
There’s no need for deprivation. Just make judicious choices, since there are a lot of delicious foods out there that can be eaten that pose no harm to the dental implant. Life can go on, foodwise, as normal for the most part.
Oral Health
When it comes to getting the dental implant, that is not a signal that the patient can just neglect their usual brushing and flossing routine. If anything, they need to be even more diligent than ever. Brushing twice a day is a must – two minutes each time, and flossing once day.
If they don’t do that l, then several things can happen – they can get gum disease and lose even more teeth, they can also lose mass in their jaw, so that the ossification process can possibly become undone, which means the jaw can’t hold the screw in any more.
Simply put, the dental implants can last up to 25 years, which significantly longer than dentures. This is something that people need to take into consideration when looking at the price tag – the longevity and usually not needing to do more daily cleaning than just brushing and flossing. That and the durability is factored into the cost.
When it comes to dental implants, the staff at Hagerstown Dentist do high-quality work and are always more than happy to work with patients throughout the whole process. Give them a call at 301-662-1760.
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Hagerstown Dentist
Hagerstown Location
1303 Pennsylvania Ave.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 200-9585
