How Long do Glendale Dental Implants Last?

Although nothing can take the place of your own natural teeth, if tooth loss does occur, dental implants are the most natural looking and feeling tooth replacement available today. One of the most common questions Glendale patients have is concerning how long dental implants will last.

The good news is that under the right circumstances many dental implants can last a lifetime. The success rate of dental implants depends on the care and experience of the Glendale implant dentist, the health of the bone they are placed into, and whether or not the patient is a smoker. The success rate for dental implants properly placed into natural, healthy, bone by an experienced Glendale implant dentist, under sterile conditions, and when the patient complies with the appropriate aftercare, is over 96%.

You can see that much of the success rate for dental implants depends on the health of the patient and their cooperation with the implant dentist. Scrupulous oral hygiene is extremely important in maintaining the dental implants. Regular flossing is a must, since like natural teeth, dental implants are most often lost to gum disease. In addition the patient must see their implant dentist for x-rays, checkups and regular cleanings as often as instructed. As to the patient’s health, the success rate of over 96% falls slightly when the dental implant has been placed in grafted bone rather than natural bone. In that case the success rate is slightly below 90%. Additionally, if the patient is a smoker, studies show the dental implant is twice as likely to fail.

As mentioned earlier, the quality and experience of your Glendale cosmetic dentist also has a bearing on how long your dental implants will last. There are other variables, such as sickness, nutrition and even genetics that can play a part in the health of your dental implants. If dental implants are not placed properly and carefully cared for it’s possible for them to fail within the first year.

While it’s hard to say exactly how long dental implants will last due to varying situations, one of the first patient’s to receive dental implants in 1965 died in 2005 with those original implants. Basically dental implants function as your natural teeth and if you care for them like natural teeth they should serve you throughout your lifetime.

Dental implants usually outlast other methods of tooth replacement such as dentures and bridges. Dentures and dental bridges typically need to be replaced every 7 to 10 years due to bone loss and changes in the jaw. Dental implants on the other hand help to preserve the bone they are placed into, and actually become a part of your natural bone through a process called osseointegration. That’s why they function just like your natural teeth.

Patients report a high degree of satisfaction with dental implants. These patients take responsibility for their dental implants by choosing an experienced Glendale implant dentist, complying with the dentist’s instructions, maintaining good oral hygiene, keeping their routine appointments and seeing their implant dentist immediately at any sign of problem.

If you are considering dental implants as a part of your Glendale smile makeover, schedule a consultation with a Glendale implant dentist to find out if you are a good candidate. They will examine your oral and overall health, obtain x-rays, determine a treatment plan and discuss costs with you.

Dr. Greg Ceyhan at Aesthetic Dentistry of Arrowhead is highly educated and experienced in the field of implant dentistry. Aesthetic Dentistry of Arrowhead accepts all major credit cards and also has payment plans available.