Posted September 03, 2024 in Dental Implant
Have you ever lost a tooth due to injury, illness, or hygiene issues? Losing one or more teeth can significantly affect your self-esteem, as your mouth is a focal point when interacting with people. But there’s hope. When restoring your smile, you want a solution that will last as long as possible. That’s where dental implants come in. They are not just a fix but a transformative solution designed to replace missing teeth and give you back your gorgeous smile. While dental implants can last a lifetime, there may be exceptions. In this blog, we discuss what factors may affect the longevity of your dental implants so that you know what to expect and how you can help make them last.
5 Min Read:
- How Do Dental Implants Work?
- Factors That Affect the Longevity of Dental Implants
- Learn More About Dental Implants in Las Cruces, NM
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Tooth replacement with dental implants is an excellent way to restore your smile if you have missing teeth. They are intended to imitate the look, feel, and stability of your natural teeth.
Dental implants consist of three parts:
- Titanium Post: A titanium post is implanted into the bone of your upper or lower jaw.
- Abutment: An abutment connects the titanium post to the crown.
- Crown: The crown is a prosthetic tooth usually made of porcelain that attaches to the abutment. When made by an experienced dentist, the crown will look like your natural tooth and match the color of your surrounding teeth.
The dental implant process typically takes longer than other dental procedures because it must be done in steps. The first step is implanting the post and waiting until the post has integrated itself into the bone of your jaw. This process, called osseointegration, can take three to six months. Once the post is securely anchored in your jaw, the abutment is placed, and a custom crown is made and attached to the abutment, giving you a new tooth intended to last forever.
Factors That Affect the Longevity of Dental Implants
Natural teeth are the hardest substance in the human body and can withstand up to 5,600 pounds of pressure per square inch. Dental implants are also designed to be highly durable, and most can withstand up to 85% of the bite force that natural teeth can. Below, we list some factors that can cause dental implants to fail.
Bone Health
Osseointegration is possibly the most crucial part of the dental implant procedure. Ensuring the titanium post is securely anchored in your jawbone is vital for a successful and long-lasting implant. That’s why good bone health is essential. When you lose a tooth, you may think it’s an inconvenience or something you can live with, providing it doesn’t interfere with your mouth’s function or appearance. However, you may not know what happens to the jaw bone when a tooth is missing.
The pressure from your teeth stimulates your jaw bone, which keeps it strong and intact. When you lose a tooth, that stimulation is gone, and your jawbone begins to deteriorate. In fact, in just one year, you can lose up to 25 percent of the bone mass in the area where your tooth is missing. This process is called resorption, and the longer you wait to replace the tooth with an implant, the more bone resorption you’ll experience. Over time, you may experience shifting of your remaining teeth, painful symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and even changes to the shape of your face.
Regarding how bone loss affects the longevity of your dental implants, too much resorption may make the implants unstable, causing them to feel loose or even fall out. In some cases, bone grafts can be done before implanting the post to strengthen the jawbone; however, the best way to ensure that your dental implants last is to get the procedure done as soon as possible.
Dental Hygiene
Poor dental hygiene is often the root cause of your initial tooth loss and can also negatively affect the longevity of your dental implants. Besides brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing at least once a day, you should also keep up with seeing your dentist for checkups at least twice a year.
Regular dental checkups are about more than just a deep cleaning; they are a proactive step in ensuring the longevity of your dental implants. Your dentist can evaluate your implants to ensure they are securely in place. Dental checkups make it easier to catch potential issues before they become more severe and help ensure that your implants remain securely rooted and in good condition so they continue functioning as needed.
Lifestyle Choices
The lifestyle choices or habits that contributed to the loss of your natural tooth can also contribute to the failure of your dental implants.
- Smoking: Besides causing teeth yellowing and bad breath, smoking is often the culprit behind more severe dental issues. When it comes to dental implants, smoking can have a significant effect on the success or failure of the implant. Nicotine constricts your blood vessels, impairing the flow of blood to the implant site. This slows the healing process, increasing your risk of infection and keeping the implant from integrating firmly into your jaw.
- Nutrition: Calcium and vitamin D are both essential for bone health. Poor nutrition can contribute to calcium and vitamin D deficiency, which can weaken your bones, cause bone loss, and increase your risk of dental implant failure.
- Bruxism: Teeth grinding or clenching, known as bruxism, puts you at a higher risk of damaging your dental implants. Chronic, excessive force on your implants caused by clenching or grinding your teeth can break your implant and damage the tissue and bone around it. Your dentist can fit you with a custom night guard to help alleviate the pressure on your teeth.
Health Conditions
Certain health conditions can negatively affect the longevity of your implants. Diabetes impairs healing, so it can impact how well your implants integrate and may put you at risk for infection. Osteoporosis causes bones to become brittle and weak, which can affect the osseointegration of your dental implants. Autoimmune diseases that suppress your immune system or cause inflammation may also contribute to infection or eventual implant failure. Make your dentist aware of your health history so they can take measures to help ensure your dental implants are a success.
Learn More About Dental Implants in Las Cruces, NM
If you’ve lost one or more teeth and want to reclaim your smile and restore full function to your mouth, dental implants may be the answer. To learn more about your dental implant options in Las Cruces, NM, schedule an appointment with one of the expert dentists at Gentle Care Dentistry by calling our office today at 575-524-3722 or completing the online contact form.