At The Village Dental & Implant Practice, we see hundreds of patients a year; one concern that often comes up is how long dental implants will last. Our dedicated, professional team are highly trained in all aspects of dental implants, and have been providing dental services for the local community in Ainsdale, Southport for over 40 years.

Looked after properly, dental implants can last for 20 years or longer. Designed to be a permanent solution for missing or failing teeth, dental implants look and feel exactly like your natural teeth. However, they do sometimes fail in the months or years after they are placed.

Let’s explore why this happens and what you can do to prevent it.

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Parts of a dental implant

There are three main components to a dental implant:

• The crown, or visible part of your replacement tooth

• The abutment, holding the crown in place

• The implant post itself, a small post usually made of titanium or zirconia, which is fitted into your jawbone. 

Many dental implants may last 20 years or more; in many cases, they last a lifetime, although the implant often lasts longer than the crown. This is because the crown is used for chewing food, like your other teeth, and therefore more exposed to wear and tear. However, the material used for a crown costs far less to replace than the metal implant itself.

What influences how long dental implants last?

Several factors can affect the lifespan of your dental implants, including the quality and amount of bone you have in your jaw, the position of the tooth to be replaced, and whether you have any gum disease. The longevity of your dental implants can also be affected if you grind your teeth or have any dental trauma while you have implants. 

Some medical conditions, including osteoporosis, cancer and diabetes, can also affect your implants’ lifespan. However, if you are unsure or have any concerns, please ask your dentist for more information. 

Jawbone quality 

If you don’t have enough bone in your jaw, your implant may fail to secure properly. However, before you have an implant fitted at The Village Dental & Implant Practice, your dentist will assess your eligibility for implants by using X-rays and 3D imaging. If you do not have enough bone, you may be offered a bone graft. 

If you are missing several or most of your teeth, All-on-4 is a dental implant procedure which replaces an entire arch and is more suitable for patients with less bone density. 

Gum disease

Gum disease can affect the lifespan of your dental implants; if you have gum disease, it is essential that this is treated before you have your implants, as inflammation of the gums around your implant can cause an infection called peri-implantitis. Left untreated, peri-implantitis can lead to implant failure as well as harming the surrounding teeth. This is also why we recommend good oral hygiene after a dental implant. 

Grinding your teeth (bruxism)

Grinding your teeth repeatedly can lead to damage to your implants. For example, it can cause the screw to become loose, or the crown to fracture or chip. The repetitive movements of tooth grinding can disrupt the process of the implant fusing with your jawbone (osseointegration). If you struggle with grinding your teeth, we recommend looking into a custom-fit night guard.

Tooth position

The position of the tooth you are having replaced can impact how long your implant will last; a tooth at the back is usually put under more pressure through chewing, whereas a front tooth will sometimes last longer. 

Damage and trauma 

Crowns can become damaged just like your natural teeth. This can be caused by facial trauma and injuries (for example, through sport), eating sticky, hard or chewy foods, or using your teeth to open bottles or other objects. If you play sport, we recommend you protect your teeth with a mouthguard during games. 

Medical conditions and medication 

Some medical conditions, procedures and medications can affect the lifespan of your dental implants. For example, if you have had radiotherapy on your jaw, are on blood-thinning medication or immunosuppressive drugs, there is a higher risk of implant failure. If you have a history of osteoporosis, bone cancer or diabetes (especially if it is poorly controlled), this can also affect the chances of implant success. 

However, ultimately the only way that you can tell if you are eligible for implants or not is to have a consultation with a trained implant dentist. It is often still possible to have implants even if one or more of these applies to you, and if you are not suitable, we will usually be able to recommend another treatment.

Which dental implant materials last longest? 

The quality of your dental implant significantly affects how long it will last. At The Village Dental in Southport, we use high-quality titanium or zirconia implants. In most cases, titanium implants do last slightly longer, although both have advantages and disadvantages. 

Titanium implants are the most common material for dental implants, and can last for over 25 years. They are strong, biocompatible and easily integrate with the bone, which is why they are used in most dental implant procedures. 

Zirconia is a metal-free alternative; it is highly durable and resistant to corrosion, and the implant itself is white (as opposed to just the crown) so will blend in well with your natural teeth. Zirconia implants can last 20 years or longer. 

How do you make dental implants last longer? 

To make your dental implants last longer, we recommend: 

• Brushing your teeth twice daily 

• Flossing your teeth and/or using interdental brushes 

• Avoiding tobacco products 

• Wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth 

• Not chewing on hard objects like ice or pens

• Scheduling regular dental checkups

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Conclusion

While implants do occasionally fail, according to the NHS, they have up to a 95% success rate for patients with healthy mouths. They stand as a leading long-term solution for missing teeth. The titanium or zirconia implant itself often lasts longer than a crown, as a crown is used for chewing food like your other teeth and is susceptible to daily wear and tear. However, with excellent oral care, dental implants can last for 20 years or longer, and often last a lifetime.