Removable dentures last about 5 to 10 years. A traditional crown-secured bridge will stay in place about 10 to 15 years before requiring replacement. But dental implants? For many, these could last for decades, with a 95% success rate at the ten-year mark. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX, dentist talks about what makes dental implants last so long.
Placing New Teeth
First, let’s talk about the parts of your dental implant and the placement process. The implant portion is a post made from titanium, which is biocompatible. The next portion is the abutment, which connects to the post and provides structure to attach a dental crown or portion of a prosthetic. Then there’s the part people see when they smile, usually in the form of a crown for individual ones or a bridge or denture. Unlike other options that rely on suction, adhesives, or crowns, the post is inserted into the jawbone, at a specific angle and position to stay in place and stimulate the growth of jawbone tissue.
The Benefits of Osseointegration
The body accepts the post as a natural root and bonds with it through a process known as osseointegration. This allows us to stay in place by preventing the loss of mass and density in the jaw that follows tooth loss and requires traditional prosthetics to be replaced every few years. As a result, your new teeth can stay in place for decades to come, possibly even a lifetime. They then act and look like natural teeth, so you can smile with confidence, eat your favorite foods, and avoid the need to remove new teeth for soaking or cleaning.
Keeping Teeth in Place
You can also help them last for a long time by taking proper care of them. They act like natural teeth, but this also means they’re susceptible to the same issues that cause tooth loss. You need to keep your smile free of periodontal disease, particularly the advanced stage known as periodontitis, which can cause implant failure. You should brush and floss daily, including around your new teeth, and also see us every six months for a checkup and cleaning, so we can monitor your smile for signs of trouble and take action to manage the disease and keep your smile whole.
If you have any questions about our long lasting and lifelike dental implants, or about starting the process of treating tooth loss, then contact our team today to learn more. Enjoy a whole and beautiful smile again in 2023!
Do You Have Questions About Replacing Your Lost Teeth?
If you’re ready to address your missing teeth with a durable and long-lasting replacement, then contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 and schedule your next appointment with our team today.