How Long Can Dental Implants Last?

Patients with clean health records can expect their implants to last 20 years or longer. This expectation is included in the 98 percent success range most dentists quote their patients. While early rejection of the implant can happen due to a rare allergy, implants are made with biocompatible titanium. Most implants that fail do so later in their lifespan, due to human error.

Dentists who do implant therapy always stress to their patients the need for strong oral care going forward. Implants function at the same level as natural teeth, and must be taken care of as such. This means brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and making sure your diet is teeth-friendly. In addition, using an implant as a tool to open packaging or break a hard food can break an implant, just like it can break a tooth.

For brushing, make sure you use low-abrasive toothpaste. Anything high-grade can erode the implant.

The back of the mouth exerts more bite force, so implants in the molar spaces tend to take more punishment.

Finally, our dental implant dentist in Los Angeles stipulates that patients with a history of diabetes or cancer have a higher risk of implant failure.

For more about how long dental implants last, contact our dentists.