What Are Dental Implants?
They are small titanium metal posts that replace lost teeth. Dental implants entail a surgical procedure for installing the metal post in the jawbone. The dentist in Scottsdale, AZ, would cut open your gums, then drill your jawbone to make room for the tooth implant. In this case, an implant replaces the root of your lost tooth. After installation, your dentist will sew the gums together to reinforce the stability of the titanium metal post.
That, however, does not mark the end of your tooth replacement procedure. After about 3 months of healing, a dentist near you will need you to return for the second phase of the tooth replacement process. The treatment protocols for the last visit entail crowning the tooth implant. The typical dental appliance for crowning implants is a dental crown. However, a dentist may use a dental bridge or dentures to crown oral implants in the case of multiple missing teeth.
Can You Get an Implant, Years After Tooth Extraction?
Typically, dental implants replace lost teeth as soon as immediately after an extraction procedure. Some dental experts claim that immediate implants reduce the timeline for the treatment. However, many patients prefer to wait for about 4 months after tooth loss before an implantation procedure. The period allows their mouths to heal well before they are ready for another procedure.
Still, some patients wait longer than 4 months. However, getting implants after many years of tooth loss has some consequences. You will have experienced tremendous bone tissue loss, necessitating a bone grafting procedure before getting oral implants.
Why Do People Get Dental Implants?
Given the timeline and invasive measures necessary for receiving tooth implants, you may wonder why people still get them. Oral implants provide many advantages, including the following:
- Natural-looking results – replacing your teeth with oral implants provides a more life-like solution in restorative dentistry. The reason is that implantation procedures replace both tooth roots and crowns.
- Boosting functionality – your oral cavity does not function optimally without teeth. Oral implants restore the functioning of your oral cavity by replacing teeth.
- Sturdiness – tooth implants are strong for various reasons. The first reason is that they feature titanium metal which is quite a sturdy material in dentistry. Besides that, tooth implants get support from the jawbone and gums, making them more stable than their counterparts.
- Long-lasting – many patients can attest that oral implants last a long time. Some patients have been able to maintain their new teeth for a lifetime. All you need is to get better at caring for your dental health without neglecting fundamental practices like brushing and flossing daily.
Do Implants for Teeth Really Last a Lifetime?
One of the most common questions regarding implantation procedures regards their longevity. Since more dental restorations last about 20 years, one would wonder why tooth implants can last a lifetime. Technically, the average life of tooth implants is 25 years. However, some patients have been able to keep their new teeth for a much longer time so that they never need retreatment to replace the implants. However, you must be vigilant about preserving your oral health, particularly on oral hygiene. Regular dental visits are also paramount to increasing the life of your tooth implants.
Can A Dental Implant Fail Years Later?
Unfortunately, many patients are not aware that not all oral implant procedures are successful. At Landmark Smiles of Scottsdale, we realize a success rate of up to 98% when working with oral implants. However, it is not to say that we do not witness some cases of implant failure in dentistry. Even after many years of having tooth implants, they can fail. Various reasons can cause your oral implants to fail, including the following:
- Gum disease – impacts the health of your gums and jawbone, compromising the stability of your implanted teeth.
- Loss of bone tissue – various factors contribute to the loss of bone tissue. Some of them include cancer of the bones, advanced periodontal disease, and facial trauma, to mention a few. When your jawbone begins to deteriorate, it can loosen your tooth implant.
- Bruxism – is a condition featuring excessive teeth grinding. It places unnecessary pressure on teeth, wearing them down. Teeth grinding can be a reason for your failed implants a year after your initial surgery.
- Dental trauma – if an injury or accident can be significant enough to knock off your natural teeth, it cannot spare your tooth implant.