Service life of dental implants, how many years they are placed for

• What is implantation
• Indications/contraindications
• Types of implants
• Factors affecting service life
• Why is there a risk of rejection?
• When to change
• Recommendations on how to extend the life of an implant

Among all types of dental reconstruction, implantation is considered the most complete and effective method, allowing you to restore one or more teeth and even the entire dentition. Because the procedure is expensive, the question often arises about how long dental implants last. The shelf life of artificial roots depends on several factors, which should be taken into account before implantation.

What is implantation

In the majority, people generalize methods for restoring teeth under the concept of “prosthetics.” This is not entirely correct. Implantation is a stage of reconstruction, which is the installation of an artificial root (implant), onto which a crown or solid prosthesis is subsequently attached.

Implantation is performed with an estimated period of 5 to 30 years. The service life of the product has the main influence on when the next dental implantation will be required, but there are a number of other factors that can shorten not the warranty period, but the actual service life.

In order to extend the period of wearing artificial roots, it is necessary to pay special attention to preparing for the procedure, to choose the right clinic/doctor and the products themselves, before carrying out the mini-operation to install the pins.

You should choose a dental clinic based on the following criteria:

• Long-term presence in the medical services market, good reputation, high professional level of doctors.
• A wide range of services in the field of implantation – doctors’ knowledge of various treatment methods.
• Availability of a license to perform dental implantation.
• Equipping the clinic with modern diagnostic and treatment equipment, its own dental laboratory.

Choose a doctor who has experience in implantation. In addition to the basic diploma of higher medical education, the doctor must have certificates confirming his qualifications and ability to work with products of specific brands. As a rule, the world's leading manufacturers of dental implants allow only doctors who have been trained by company specialists to work with their products.

Try to collect as much information as possible about the clinic’s activities and specialists. Look through reviews on official websites, thematic forums on the Internet, and entries in the “Book of Complaints and Suggestions.”

Consult with several doctors from different clinics and compare the opinions of specialists regarding your problem.

Be sure to draw up an agreement with the clinic for the provision of medical services, which must indicate all the features of the guarantee obligations provided in the event of unsuccessful treatment.

After implantation, strictly follow all doctor’s instructions and do not neglect preventive examinations.

Dental implantation is a complex multi-stage procedure that involves many doctors and specialists; during its implementation, expensive materials and equipment are used, so it cannot be cheap. Very often, the cheap price offered by some clinics is just a publicity stunt that does not guarantee a solution to your problems.

In reputable clinics, when installing an implant, the medical history indicates the number of the registration certificate, which is available for each quality product.

Indications/contraindications

Implantation is carried out exclusively according to indications. The need to install artificial roots is determined by the dentist who examines the patient at the first appointment.

The need for implantation is confirmed in the following indications:

• missing one tooth;
• absence of 2 or more dental organs, with adjacent location;
• absence of the last teeth without the possibility of restoration by other methods;
• complete edentia (congenital pathology characterized by the absence of teeth);
• the presence of reasons preventing the wearing of a removable denture (for example, a gag reflex);
• pain caused by functional occlusion;
• absence of alveolar processes in the upper jaw with concomitant complete absence of teeth;
• anatomical defects that arise as a result of diseases, mechanical effects, as well as as a result of disturbances during intrauterine development or genetic predisposition.

In professional dentistry, the patient is additionally sent for diagnostics to determine contraindications:

• severe diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• malignant oncological diseases;
• diseases of the nervous system;
• blood pathologies (especially poor clotting);
• severe connective tissue diseases;
• open tuberculosis;
• liver/renal failure during exacerbation;
• increased tone of the masticatory muscles in combination with bruxism;
• diabetes mellitus;
• immunodeficiency diseases;
• allergic reaction to painkillers;
• age up to 18 - 22 years (depending on indications);
• addiction to drugs or alcohol.

If a patient undergoes implantation with contraindications, the shelf life of dental implants will be reduced to 1 - 2 months, or even several days. In case of contraindications, 90% of patients experience rejection of the structure with the development of associated complications.

Types of implants

In dentistry, implants made of titanium material are used, since it is considered the most reliable and safe. All products are divided into several types according to design and shape. Depending on the indications, the most suitable installation option is selected. In addition to indications, the choice of implant model is also influenced by their cost. Modern designs tend to be more expensive, but more convenient and durable.

Based on the type of design, products are divided into two types: collapsible and non-collapsible. This characteristic affects the service life only due to the need to replace the crowns. Thus, fixed structures may require a complete replacement of the prosthesis after 5–16 years, while removable ones can last up to 12 years.

The duration of operation is affected by the shape of the artificial roots, since the reliability of the installation of the prosthesis depends on the type of implant.

1. Lamellar - screwed into the bone tissue located under the palate;
2. Root-shaped - installed in root canals;
3. Combined - combine both previous types and are placed in the root canal.

Pins screwed into the root canal are considered the most durable, since with this type of installation it is possible to achieve excellent fixation.

Based on the material of manufacture, they are distinguished between ceramic-metal products with a guarantee of about 12 years, ceramic products - about 7 years, and metal-plastic products - no more than 3 years. There are also implants made of aluminum and zirconium, their service life is more than 15 years.

How long do dentures last?

Prostheses are installed separately. Their service life may differ from implants. It is determined by the material from which the crowns are made:

• metal-plastic or plastic crowns - last from several weeks to several months due to the insufficient strength of the plastic. They can be installed temporarily while a permanent denture or crown is being made. The maximum service life of plastic structures is 2-3 years;
• metal ceramics. These are crowns made of metal, coated with a ceramic layer. They look good, are durable, reliable, and last 10-12 years. With care and proper dental care, this period can be much longer. Most often, the enamel of metal ceramics chips, cracks appear on the surface, and because of this it has to be replaced;
• metal-free ceramics and zirconium dioxide are the most durable, lasting 15-25 years. Almost never require replacement.

If a short-lived prosthesis is used for implantation, it will have to be replaced, which creates a risk of complications. Doctors at the Dentospas clinic recommend using the most reliable, durable designs and materials.

Factors affecting service life

Having decided to undergo implantation, you must first familiarize yourself with all the requirements for the reliability of products. The average service life of dental implants is 15 years, but when counting on installing a reliable design, you need to understand that the cost will not be cheap.

Criteria for the characteristics of implants:

• strength - resistance to constant loads;
• product quality;
• type of production technology;
• material of manufacture;
• installation method.

A major role, as already mentioned, is played by the patient’s health status. Before implantation, oral approval should be performed. The presence of even minor inflammation or caries suggests a risk of implant rejection.

An important point is the professionalism of the doctor. if the structure itself is not installed securely, then most likely the pin will move or fall out.

Manufacturer and Dental Warranties

When implanting, it is better to know well-known manufacturers that have positive reviews. As a rule, you can always find information about certain implants and how long the products of a given manufacturer last. However, it is worth considering that dentistry and the manufacturer give different guarantees, since the manufacturer is based on the characteristics of the product, and the dental company takes into account the operating conditions.

Implants come in budget, medium and premium classes. Manufacturers such as AstraTech, XIVE Friadent and Nobel provide a lifetime guarantee; their products are premium and have increased strength and healing rates.

Average-priced implants have a service life (from the manufacturer) of an average of 20 years. The manufacturer's warranty for artificial roots is no more than 10 years.

Dentists, as a rule, establish a guarantee of no more than 3 years, since patients often do not follow the doctor’s recommendations for care throughout the entire period of use. The guarantee provided is confidence in the work done by the doctor.

A complete denture will not adhere well to the implants and some of them will be overloaded, is that true?

With the exception of the situations that we described above, four implants are quite enough to support a full-fledged denture of 10-12 crowns per row. Implants in the lateral zone are installed at an angle, thus using a larger area of ​​the jaw bone.

In addition, the prosthesis has a metal frame (except for cases where the adaptive prosthesis is frameless and is placed on the day of the implantation surgery, that is, according to the “teeth in 1 day” protocol). The frame reliably connects and stabilizes the implants. There can be no rebound effect - due to the presence of a strong base inside the prosthesis, as well as planning the process of placing implants taking into account future prosthetics. In addition, we do not chew with only one extreme tooth - all side elements are used for this: the load is distributed evenly.

An example of creating a real frame for all-on-4 prosthetics and a model of two complete dentures with 12 crowns for each row

At the preparation stage, at least two doctors are involved in the process - an implant surgeon and an orthopedic dentist, who work closely together. And if the prosthesis is uncomfortable, does not normalize the bite, dangles, and so on, then this means that the surgeon and the orthopedist did not coordinate their actions, the prosthesis was not worked out before the start of treatment, and the implants were placed without further understanding of how the prosthesis would be attached to them .

Thanks to the NobelClinician software, which is used to plan all stages of all-on-4 implantation using the Nobel Biocare brand, the doctor analyzes the quality and quantity of bone in volume, selects the placement points of the implants, the dimensions of the structures, and their exact angle of inclination. Next, the entire “implant-prosthesis” structure is modeled, and multi-unit abutments with the appropriate angle on which the prosthesis will be attached are selected. Then it is calculated how the chewing load will be distributed: the bite parameters are taken, standard load parameters are entered into the program, and then the chewing process is simulated. Thus, the possibility of excessive load on the prosthesis and its breakage is completely eliminated.

We guarantee high results! We use only original implants and prosthetics for them. We do not skimp on your health and achieve lasting treatment results that will last for many years.

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Why is there a risk of rejection?

No manufacturer or dentist can claim that an implant will not be rejected 100%, since sometimes a complication occurs simply due to the body’s individual reaction to a foreign body.

The guarantee provided by dentistry is to protect the patient from complications in the event of rejection:

• due to a doctor’s error during installation (failure to comply with sanitary standards, incorrect installation, etc.);
• due to inconsistency of product quality.

If the patient did not follow the recommendations, or the implant was rejected after 2 - 4 years or more, then we are not talking about a medical error or poor quality. Most likely, pathological processes are occurring in the patient’s body, which become the cause. In such cases, the clinic, of course, does not bear responsibility.

Note! According to statistics, implants are rejected in only 2% of patients.

When to change

After implantation, you should visit your dentist every 6 months. As soon as a specialist detects signs of product rejection or sees that the design no longer meets quality requirements, a decision is made to remove and possibly replace the structure.

Changing the implant is necessary if:

• pin mobility;
• severe pain at the attachment site;
• bleeding;
• severe swelling;
• signs of suppuration;
• swelling of the face in the area of ​​implant installation.

If the patient himself notices such signs, then he should contact a specialist immediately. Similar symptoms can occur both in the first days and years later.

Recommendations on how to extend the life of an implant

The dental guarantee is not an indicator of the longevity of the implants. If the manufacturer indicates a service life of 20 years or more, then you should rely on this data. The implanted structure can last until the end of your life if you follow the recommendations for its use.

Expert recommendations on how to extend the life of dental implants:

• strict adherence to oral hygiene (brushing teeth twice a day, using mouthwash and special dental floss);
• prevention and treatment of dental diseases at the first signs;
• giving up bad habits (use of narcotic drugs is a categorical contraindication);
• undergoing professional teeth cleaning in dentistry;
• reducing the load on the structure when eating food (it is not advisable to gnaw, constantly chew, eat hard foods, etc.);
• Periodic visits to the dentist for preventive purposes.

The service life of the crowns can also be affected, since when the structure is changed, all its elements are replaced.

A-Medic Dental Clinic provides a guarantee for the installation of implants in accordance with the quality of the products. The specialists of our center have extensive experience in implantation, so we are confident in the work of our implantologists. We offer our patients a choice of implants from the most famous manufacturers at an affordable price.

Care instructions

Much depends on how well the Patient observes the rules of personal hygiene. You need to monitor your oral cavity by performing these simple steps:

• daily brushing of teeth using special pastes (only non-abrasive care products are suitable), brushes with soft and medium bristles;
• using irrigators to remove food debris and plaque (dental floss is recommended to be used carefully so as not to damage dentures or increase interdental spaces);
• It is recommended to rinse the cavity with special solutions after each meal;
• diet correction involves eliminating or reducing the amount of foods that contribute to staining of the enamel and crown material, and the risk of chipping.

According to statistics, rejection of the artificial root occurs only in 2% of cases. But if the technology is violated or the rules of care for the postoperative area are not followed, this figure increases to 10%, about which the doctor must warn the Patient. Most often, complications develop due to pathogenic bacteria entering the wound. Damage can be caused by injuries, bad habits, or chewing hard foods, such as nuts.