Dental implants replace teeth with an unparalleled track record of longevity. Studies show that nine out of ten implants last twenty years and even longer. The durability of this dental restoration is linked to its foundation, the artificial root. This structure mimics a natural tooth because it is fused into your jawbone.
At Sandpiper Dental, we provide dental implants and can treat you every step of the way. Our dentists provide expert planning and surgically place your implant at our Jacksonville dental office. Finally, we finish the process with a restoration that fits your needs.
What Are Dental Implants Made Of?
The essence of a dental implant is literally inside its artificial root. Without the characteristics of titanium, dental implants would not be possible. As a metal, titanium is strong and stable, But its most important characteristic is its biocompatibility, which means it won't react to a living system. This property allows bone tissue to accept your artificial tooth root as its own.
Titanium also rarely causes an allergic reaction. This makes it an ideal metal to be implanted in your jawbone.
Dental Implant Studies Support Long Lifespans
Because this technology is so ground-breaking, numerous studies have confirmed the success rate of dental implants, and the results are impressive. According to the National Institutes of Health, nine out of ten implants were still working strong after more than ten years.
This survival rate was confirmed in an Australian study that showed that 87 percent of dental implants were humming away after two decades. For many people in Jacksonville, FL, this means you can expect your implant root to last for life!
Can a Dental Implant Be Replaced?
The portion of your dental implant reconstruction that suffers direct wear and tear from daily usage is the final restoration. For a single tooth implant, this is usually a dental crown specially designed to attach to your implant root. However, in many cases, we can replace multiple teeth – even a complete arch – with an implant-supported bridge or denture.
The Sandpiper Dental team can design and even create your final restoration with our same-day CEREC dental crown technology. Instead of using an outside lab to create dental restoration, which can take several weeks, we have specialized software which digitally plans your crown as a stand-alone or part of a bridge. Then we transmit those plans to a precision milling machine which carves your restoration from a solid ceramic block.
So, while your implant root lasts for life, you may have to replace your crown or bridge after ten to fifteen years or if it suffers some form of damage. How well you care for your implant restoration significantly impacts how long it lasts.