Americans are always known for having bright and beautiful smiles. They have almost perfect-looking teeth. One reason for this is the priority given to oral hygiene.
Despite that, over 36 million Americans are toothless. Around 120 million US residents are missing several teeth. Experts are expecting these numbers to go up.
Many US citizens are looking for ways to replace their missing pearly whites. One of the best options today is a dental implant.
What Is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are the best option for tooth replacement these days. These are designed to become a permanent part of your mouth.
The structure replaces the missing tooth. The implant has a small titanium post. Alloy or ceramic are also used for the post. It’s placed in or on the jawbone. It acts as the root of the tooth. A crown is then attached to the implant. This is a prosthetic that can last decades. Dental implants can be permanent or removable. You also don’t have to worry about implant removal. The implant won’t move or slip because it’s fused to the jawbone.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants are also designed to last a lifetime. The small structure can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years. This means you’ll be enjoying the benefits of having a dental implant your entire life.
It’s also a good investment. You’ll improve your dental health and become more confident when flashing your smile.
The dental implant was also designed to become a permanent structure. At least, the post is. The crown might need replacing every 15 years or so.
What Factors Affect Longevity of Dental Implants
There are many reasons why dental implants are popular. One is it fits like a glove. You won’t feel that it’s artificial. They look, feel, and work like the real thing. You won’t have to worry about smiling or eating while in a social setting. Implants can also help improve your eating habits. It will also enhance your face’s bone features.
There are cases where a dental implant fails after a few months or years. This is due to several factors:
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Dental implants are great replacements for your natural teeth. You should also take good care of them. This means you have to brush them every day. Regular flossing is also a must. Otherwise, you might end up with gum disease. This damages the gum tissue and can result in bone loss.
- Excessive Biting or Chewing: Eating good food is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But you have to be careful not to chew or bite into hard objects. This will damage your natural teeth. It’s also bad for your dental implants.
- Bad Case of Bruxism: One of the main reasons dental implants get damaged is bruxism. You may also know this as teeth grinding. People with bruxism clench or grind their teeth during sleep. They sometimes do this during the day. Bruxism will wear down the crown of your dental implant. It’s because clenching or grinding teeth adds pressure on the implant. This could result in a fractured or cracked crown. A screw on the implant’s post might loosen too.
- Personal Lifestyle: How you live your life will also affect your dental implant. Smoking too much or chewing tobacco makes you vulnerable to gum disease. This will weaken your gums and other teeth. When this happens, your dental implant could loosen. They’re anchored to the bone but disease could weaken its hold.
- Medical Conditions: Some medical issues could cause problems for your implant. For example, cancer can weaken or damage bones. Diabetes can damage your body’s nerves and blood vessels. This increases the risk of the implant failing.
You Now Have a Reason to Smile
Dentistry of Orlando will give you plenty of reasons to smile. For one, you’ll be in the hands of the best dental office in Florida. We specialize in a wide range of dental procedures. We use the latest technology and the best materials. We do dental implants and crowns. We can restore your implants and whiten your teeth. We also do dental cleanings, fillings, and extractions. We have two numbers for you to call! Give us a ring at (407) 249-9292 or (407) 851-5555. You can email us at avalon@dentistryoforlando.com or at hansel@dentistryoforlando.com. You can also send us a message here.
