Dental implants have become hugely popular in recent years, not only do they look great they’re also built to last. They’re definitely a great investment, but what’s their lifespan, and is there anything extra that you should be doing to look after yours?
Dr Chris Wood
Dental Implant Surgeon
BDS MFGD, Dip Imp Dent (RCS Eng) FFGDP (UK) GDC No: 57428
Whilst we can’t give you an exact ‘best before’ date for an implant, we can tell you that with proper care and attention, it should be around for decades. Ultimately the longevity of your implants rests with you and how determined you are to look after them.
Keep on brushing
Maintaining a good oral health routine is crucial to implant care. Brushing and using
interdental brushes eg Tepe brushes, with particular focus in and around the implant and
gumline, using mouthwash, and having regular six-monthly appointments with your
hygienist are all crucial in order to staying on top of any problems.
To successfully fuse to the jawbone, an implant needs to be fitted into a healthy mouth and jaw. This is why we ensure that all our patients have great oral health before fitting an implant, in order to help it fuse successfully. The bonus is, that once you’re in that cleaning routine it’s an easy thing to continue once the implant has been fitted.
Stub it out
It won’t be a surprise to learn that smoking is a big no no, both for implant fitting and
longevity. Nicotine can slow blood flow which delays the initial healing process, and
continued smoking will cause an increased risk of bone loss, a result of gum disease. In
short, it’s bad for you and your teeth.
Damage limitation
Different teeth do different jobs, and the same will be true of an implant, a front tooth has less force exerted onto it than a back tooth which is chewing and grinding food. Be mindful when chewing hard or sticky sweets and avoid using your teeth as bottle openers or using them to open the packaging. Those implants may be tough, but the ceramic crown is not indestructible, so let’s respect it.
Under pressure
If you grind your teeth when you sleep and know that this puts your jaw under pressure, then talk to your dentist before you have an implant fitted. This type of pressure can affect not only the implant but the jawbone as well, which can cause damage to the titanium fitting. This shouldn’t stop you from having an implant but just means we can talk to you about measures to protect it.
Staying healthy
The same is true of pre-existing medical conditions. If you’ve got them, let’s hear about them. Diabetes and a weakened immune system can both impact your recovery time but if we’re aware then we can incorporate them into your treatment plan. High-dosage medications can also impact your oral health so if you’re on immunosuppressants or blood thinners then we want to know about it from the outset.
There you have it, our whistle-stop tour to implant care. Together, we can make sure your implants are a sound, solid investment for years to come.
Our highly trained implant surgeons are there to guide you on your implant journey and
our initial consultation will give you all the information you need. Why not book yours today at 01280 848945 or fill out a contact form.
