Do Dental Implants Last Forever?
With proper care, men and women who have dental implants placed will be able to enjoy their dental implants for life. However, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t at risk of failure due to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, or “gum disease,” is a condition that can develop in the smile due to poor oral health and can impact the foundation of dental implants. Soft tissue loss, tooth loss, and bone loss are just some of the consequences that come with the development of periodontal disease. Bone loss can affect the foundation of a dental implant and cause it to become loose and fail. This may lead to expensive and time-consuming treatments to restore the smile back to its original health and replace the implants in the smile. Because of the risks associated with certain oral health conditions, it is essential that patients visit their dentist at least twice a year. This allows the dental team to provide a cleaning and evaluation, along with early diagnosis and intervention of any conditions that may put the dental implants at risk of failure.
What Happens If I Don’t Get Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a great option as a foundation for several restorations. If patients choose not to have dental implants put in place and instead consider alternative options such as traditional dentures, dental bridges, or partial dentures, they may deal with the changing jaw structure sooner rather than later. The process of dental resorption starts as soon as a tooth is lost, so with proper maintenance of the smile and the placement of dental implants, patients can combat these unwanted changes and keep their youthful jawline. As soon as patients experience the loss or extraction of a tooth, they need to work with a dental professional to learn about their options and make an educated decision.
