13 November 2024

Dental Implants: What They Are & How Long They Last

If you have missing teeth or other dental problems, you might consider dental implants as a potential long-term solution. However, you may have some pressing questions about them, such as:

Below, our Knighton Dental in Leicester clinicians answer these and other common queries about this frequently requested treatment.

What Are Dental Implants, And How Do They Work?

Dental implants are artificial teeth inserted into the jawbone. A surgeon uses a screw-like device to replace a missing tooth with an implant, which serves as an anchor for the artificial crown. A device known as an abutment connects this artificial tooth to the implant.

dental_implants_leicester

A natural tooth consists of a crown that sits above the gums and a root sitting securely below the gum.

A dental implant is based on this design. It comprises a crown that is carefully designed and crafted to resemble a natural, healthy tooth, as well as – to replicate the function of a natural root – the implant itself.

Dental implants stimulate the bone molecules to attach themselves to the implant’s titanium thread, in a process known as osseointegration. It normally takes around eight to 12 weeks for the bone to securely bond to the whole surface of the implant. The result is an entirely stable foundation for the new crown.
The crown for each dental implant is custom-made to fit the mouth of the patient and to match their teeth colour. The crown won’t merely look like a natural tooth – it will also feel and function like one, enabling the patient to chew and eat normally.

How Long Does a Dental Implant Take?

The actual surgery to implant a single titanium root takes approximately one to two hours. Naturally, this surgery will take longer when multiple implants need to be fitted.

However, the entire process of planning for, arranging, and then having a dental implant undertaken will take much longer than this. A timeframe of around four to nine months can be expected, although this will greatly depend on the patient’s specific treatment plan.

This process will begin with a pre-operative assessment to check the health of the mouth, followed eventually by the surgery to place a titanium implant in the patient’s jawbone. The restorative treatment stage – which sees the crown fitted – will conclude the process.

Are Dental Implants Painful?

The good news is that a dental implant procedure is not usually painful. This is due to the surgery being performed under local anaesthetic and the jaw not having any nerve endings.

The patient should not feel any pain during the procedure itself, and any post-surgery discomfort is likely to be minimal. However, the extent and duration of any discomfort will depend on the complexity of the procedure and the individual’s pain threshold.

If you are concerned about experiencing pain or discomfort during or after dental implant surgery, please feel free to enquire to our clinicians about this. It may be possible for a form of sedation, such as intravenous (IV) sedation or general anaesthesia, to be used.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

You might understandably wonder: do dental implants last forever? Strictly speaking, the answer to that question is “no”. However, newly placed dental implants can be expected to last for around 15 to 20 years before it becomes necessary to replace them.

Many dental implants do last for 20 years or longer. In some cases, the crown will need to be replaced sooner than the implant. This is because the crown is subject to daily wear and tear, which makes it more vulnerable than the implant.

A variety of factors can impact on how long dental implants last. These include, but are not limited to:

The position of the implants in the mouth – those in the back of the mouth are likely to wear out faster than those at the front, given their major role in biting and chewing.
The quality of the patient’s jawbone – if the patient doesn’t have sufficient jawbone to create a stable base for the implant, or if they have an underlying medical condition affecting the bone in the jaw, the implant may be at risk of failing.
Whether the patient grinds their teeth. Some people suffer from “bruxism” – the condition of grinding their teeth when they are asleep or stressed. This can cause dental implants to become worn down over time. Fortunately, a mouthguard can help prevent such issues.

Do you have any further questions about what these treatments involve, or any aspect of our own dental implants in Leicester at Knighton Dental?

If so, you are welcome to book a consultation with us to learn more.

Back to blog