Do Dental Implants Really Last Forever?

When you are missing one or more teeth, you have several options for replacement. Most, like dental bridges and dentures, sit on top of the gums, helping to prevent adjacent tooth slippage and restoring both function and aesthetics to the smile. However, as time passes, the bone below the missing tooth will begin to shrink, which may result in the need to replace or adjust your tooth replacement over time.

Dental implants are inserted into the jawbone. After the initial healing process, dental implants replace the roots of missing teeth and serve as an anchor for the restoration. This may include a bridge or dentures, but often implants are completed with dental crowns. No matter what it is holding in place, however, the implant itself helps to prevent changes to the jaw, allowing these types of restorations to stay in place much longer.

…But Are They Forever Ever?

Dental implants should last for a lifetime. Exceptions to this include advanced gum disease (periodontitis) and trauma, but by and large, once an implant has been accepted into the jaw, it should not come loose or fall out. The restorations they hold in place may need to be replaced due to wear or discoloration, but implants themselves are permanent.

At NYC Smile Design, we use the Straumann implant system, the most extensively studied and clinically validated implant system available today. The Straumann implant system enjoys a near 100% rate of long-term success – evidenced by more than 3,000 independent scientific studies and verified by our own experience. If you are coming to us for tooth replacement, we will be happy to provide more information about this trusted and efficacious implant system during your time in our care.

Contact NYC Smile Design to Learn More

If you are missing one or more teeth, we are here to help you find the best solution. Please call NYC Smile Design at 212-452-3344 to schedule your initial consultation today. Located in Manhattan, our experienced and thoughtful implant dentists welcome patients from all surrounding areas of New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut.