How Do Dental Implants Stay in the Jaw?

If you need to replace one or more teeth, there is no better option than dental implants. This is especially true when it comes to the lifespan of a dental implant. Take good care of a dental implant and it could last a lifetime. However, if you are new to this treatment, you might be wondering just how dental implants manage to remain in your jawbone for so long.

Just as natural teeth do, dental implants work with your jawbone to remain in place.

Your Jawbone Grows Around the Implants

Before a prosthodontist, the dental specialist who places dental implants, can place a dental implant, they need to make sure you have enough bone. Since the jawbone around a lost tooth resorbs from the moment a tooth is lost, it's important you act quickly. Wait too long and you will need a bone graft. A bone graft adds several months to the healing process.

However, if you have enough bone, the prosthodontist can screw the titanium posts into place without doing a bone graft. Once in place, your jawbone will begin to heal around the implants, with new bone cells forming around the implants to help hold them in place.

And, once you begin to eat with the implants in, the pressure you exert on the implants will ensure that the newly formed bone does not resorb. Provided you take care of your oral health, your titanium implants can last at least a decade and possibly even a lifetime.

You Will Need to Replace the Crowns Eventually

Although the titanium posts can last indefinitely, the dental crowns, which act as the teeth and allow you to eat, may only last 10-15 years. This is due to the wear and tear that your dental crowns may suffer over the years. And it is usually due to the connection between the crowns and implants deteriorating that calls for replacement.

You can opt to have your crowns cemented to your titanium implants or connected with an abutment. The choice shouldn't have any effect on the lifespan of your dental crown, but you should discuss the options with your dentist or prosthodontist before making a decision.

Are you considering having a tooth replaced with a dental implant? Then you should discuss your options with your dentist as soon as possible. Once you lose a tooth, the bone in that area begins to resorb within months. Time is short, so be sure to act quickly.