Dental implants tend to be far more durable than other tooth replacement devices, like dental bridges and dentures. In fact, implants can last for a lifetime if the conditions are appropriate to support implant placement and the patient takes good care of the implants after they have been placed. But it is important to remember that, just like any other surgical procedure, there are no guarantees to extended long-term results.

Initially, there must be adequate bone to support osseointegration in order for the patient to have long-term dental implant success. After the oral surgery in which the dental implants are placed, the surrounding bone forms a bond with the implant’s titanium surface. That process renders the implant a fixture in the mouth and gives the implant its durability.

However, if there is not enough bone to form a strong bond, the implant can fail. If you have already lost a fair amount of bone at the implant site, we at Smile Up Dental Care & Implant Center determine that you are not an immediate candidate for implant placement.

In these cases, an additional oral surgery procedure can be performed to graft bone into the implant site to give the patient enough bone material to qualify for implant placement.

After the patient has healed sufficiently from that bone graft, the oral surgeon at Smile Up Dental Care & Implant Center can then move forward with placing the dental implants in the jaw.

Successful osseointegration is not the only factor in dental implant longevity, however. If gum disease develops at some point and advances, it can attack the bone, putting the stability of an implant at risk. This is why it is so important for patients to keep up good oral hygiene habits at home and continue to follow up with a dentist for routine care. Preventing gum disease can also help you to maximize the lifespan of your dental implants.

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