Is a Dental Implant Permanent?

How Long Does a Dental Implant Last?

The implant fixture can last 20 years or more when it is well cared for. Some last longer. So if you are having an implant in your 40s or 50s the idea is not that you will automatically need another one in a years.

There is an important difference between the implant and the tooth attached to it. The crown is exposed to chewing and can wear down over time. It may eventually need repair or replacement even though the implant underneath is still perfectly healthy.

The Implant and Crown Are

Think of the implant as the foundation. The crown is what you actually see and bite with. If the crown gets damaged your dentist can replace it without removing the implant.

What Can Make an Implant Fail?

An implant does not become indestructible just because it has healed. Gum disease around the implant can damage the tissues supporting it. Poor cleaning makes that problem more likely.

• Good daily cleaning matters, even though the implant itself cannot get a cavity.

• Gum problems around an implant are worth taking because the supporting bone can be affected.

• Teeth grinding, at night puts extra pressure on the crown and implant.

• Smoking can make healing harder and honestly it is one habit worth discussing with your dentist before treatment.

What Happens Years Later?

Your dentist may check the gum around the implant. Take X-rays when needed to make sure the supporting bone remains healthy. The crown might eventually show wear. That is normal.

So is a dental implant permanent? The honest answer is that the implant is intended as a term potentially lifelong replacement but nobody can promise that it will last forever.

Dental Implant Services in Popular Locations

---