Dental implants can transform your smile and improve your quality of life more effectively than almost any other restorative dental procedure. Not only do they return both form and function to the area where you’ve lost a tooth, but they also help you maintain bone mass where it otherwise may have been lost.
But just how long will your dental implant last, and is there anything you can do to extend its lifespan? We’ve got the answers to those questions and much more right here in this easy guide.
What is a dental implant?
Dental implants are a procedure designed to replace a missing tooth by fusing a titanium post to the jawbone, which supports a crown that looks and functions just like a natural tooth.
The fusion process, known as osseointegration, provides a level of support that no other tooth replacement procedure can provide. This makes the dental implant perhaps the best option for restoring a missing tooth.
The Dental Implant Lifespan
While dental implants are strong and durable, they’re not invincible, and there may come a time when a replacement is required.
The titanium post, which is fused with the jawbone, can last a lifetime provided you take proper care of it, but the crown would last an average of 10 to 15 years with proper care. This is because the crown takes so much wear and tear when you’re biting and chewing.
Should you receive an implant in an area of your mouth that is less involved in biting and chewing, the crown will likely enjoy a longer lifespan.
There are a few different things you can do to extend the life of your crown regardless of where it is in your mouth. Sometimes a crown can even last well past 15 years with the proper care.
Tips for Caring for Your Dental Implants:
If you’re looking to break the record for the longest-lasting dental implant, you’ll need to take great care to keep it in great shape. Below are some tips for doing exactly that.
Maintain Your Overall Health
Your body is responsible to perform a ton of complex, but important tasks. By taking care of your body’s needs properly, even down to simple things like staying hydrated, your teeth and implants will benefit, too.
Maintain a Great Oral Hygiene Routine
This one should come as no surprise. You should be brushing twice a day and flossing once a day no matter what, but it’s even more important when you’re trying to keep that dental implant safe and secure.
Get the Right Oral Care Products
Your dental implant crown will be durable and strong but not quite as durable and strong as a natural tooth. For that reason, you’ll want to be a bit more careful about which products you use to care for it.
Choose a soft nylon toothbrush that can help you take it a little easier on your crown, and look for a sensitive toothpaste that doesn’t contain any abrasive ingredients.
Watch What You Eat
Certain hard or sticky foods can damage your natural teeth, which means they’re liable to damage your dental implant, too. You’ll want to reconsider how often you eat these kinds of foods if you want to extend your crown’s lifespan. Foods like hard bread, chewy steak, and sticky candies make the top of this list.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Your dentist is your greatest ally when it comes to protecting your dental implants. Make sure to visit your dentist once every six months for a routine exam and cleaning. Your dentist can also keep an eye on your crown and let you know how it’s holding up.
Dental Implant Care with Cohen Dental Care
If you need a dentist in the Briarwood or Great Neck area to help you care for your dental implants, contact Cohen Dental Care today to schedule your consultation.