One of the benefits of dental implants is that they can last a lifetime. A lifetime is a long time, and most dental restorations don’t last anywhere near that long. So how is it that dental implants can actually last 30, 40, even 50 years?
It’s due to a unique combination of elements that only dental implants have. At Beyond Exceptional Dentistry, we are proud to offer dental implants to our patients in Savannah, GA, then see long-lasting results for decades.
Dental Implants Are Made of Titanium
One of the important attributes of dental implants is that they’re made of titanium. Titanium is a very strong metal that is capable of handling the repeated compressive stresses of biting and chewing. This protects dental implants from wear and mechanical failure, which can occur but is very rare.
Titanium is also a very noble metal, like gold, that doesn’t react with very many things in the body, so it’s not going to rust away. In fact, if a small amount of oxidation does occur, the resulting titanium oxide creates a strong protective coating around the implant–it doesn’t rust away like iron or copper. This helps our Savannah, GA, dental implant patients enjoy long-lasting results from their implants.
Dental Implants Are Supported by Bone
Of course, your titanium implant couldn’t do the job alone–it would probably be worn out by all the millions of chews it is expected to deliver over a lifetime. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to go it alone. Instead, your dental implant is surrounded and supported by your bone, which helps share the load so that dental implants aren’t damaged by the repetitive stresses of chewing.
Your Savannah, GA implant dentist inserts the implants into your jawbone, but that’s just the start of the process. As it heals, the bone bonds directly to the titanium implant. This process, known as osseointegration, ensures that the implant and the bone can effectively share the load. It also ensures that the implant stays firmly fixed in the mouth. As long as the implant is healthy, the bone maintains a tight hold on the implant.
Dental Implants Stimulate the Bone
Of course, the other side of the bone support is that the dental implant itself doesn’t just depend on the bone for support; it stimulates the bone. Normally, after you lose your teeth, the body will remove bone from your jaw. The dental implant prevents this by stimulating the bone around the implants. Because dental implants stimulate the bone around them, they ensure they will always have the support they need.
People wearing dentures experience the loss of jawbone, which can lead to a shrinking face. As the facial structure shrinks, it not only increases the risk of jawbone fracture but also leads to cosmetic problems such as a sunken face or loose, sagging facial tissues. This means that people who get dental implants in Savannah might experience a slower aging process than people with dentures.
Protected by the Gums
Dental implants and bones have a further layer of protection in the gums wrapped around both. Your gums protect bones and dental implants from chemical exposure to acidic foods and drinks. This further helps protect them against damage and erosion.
Your Savannah implant dentist will want to check up on the health of your gums regularly to ensure they’re still protecting your bones and implants.
Why Don’t Dental Implants Always Last?
With all of these advantages, you might then wonder why dental implants don’t always last forever. So why do dental implants sometimes fail?
Poor maintenance: Not taking proper care of your dental implants is a leading risk factor for having them fail. If you aren’t cleaning your dental implants with a toothbrush twice a day and flossing them every day, then you are more likely to develop peri-implantitis, a form of gum disease. Just as periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss, peri-implantitis is the leading cause of dental implant failures.
Poor placement: Your dentist could also contribute to the loss of your dental implants. If your dentist puts your implants in a place where your bite brings down excessive force, the stimulating action that is supposed to build bone can actually become destructive, causing you to lose bone around the dental implant. That’s why it’s good to work with a neuromuscular dentist who can help balance your bite and ensure that your implant isn’t being subjected to excessive pressure.
Bad luck: Sometimes, we can’t track down exactly why a dental implant failed. In rare instances, it might be related to a defect in the implant itself. Or maybe it’s related to not having good bone healing around the implant. These types of unexplained failures are very rare.
The Savannah implant dentists at Beyond Exceptional Dentistry have a very good track record with dental implants. Our skill and experience help provide attractive, long-lasting results from your dental implants.
Start Your Dental Implant Procedure Today
Are you convinced that dental implants really can last a lifetime? If so, then it’s time to start your procedure for long-lasting dental implants today. Please call (912) 234-8282 for an appointment with a Savannah implant dentist at Beyond Exceptional Dentistry, located in Savannah’s Victorian District.
