How Long Do Dental Implants Last

The truth about Peri-implantitis. (which in English means HELP, my dental implants are failing!!) 

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I recently had a new patient consultation with a chap who had had a quote for implant work at another practice. Nothing extraordinary about that, I hear you say….except that he had been told – your implants will last long.

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So What?

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• Whose lifetime, the dentist, the patient, or the implant?!

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• Who is going to guarantee those implants for a lifetime?

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Because it’s all very well making longevity-promises to people, but without a back-up plan and some ‘what-ifs’ in the

contract, those promises start to sound rather hollow!

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Here is what we do at Winning Smiles to ensure that our implants survive for the longest time possible. Having the right attitude helps!

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Admit that implants can and do fail both short-term and long-term (denial is indefensible, see above)

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Keep abreast of the latest evidence-based studies on what causes implant failure and what the best failure avoidance strategies are – (like the European Forum on Peri-implantitis held in London in January 2010)

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Having A Clear, Well Defined Follow Up Protocol For Each And Every Implant Patient, Tailored To Individual Needs, Eg

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• – Regular implant-hygiene sessions with our implant-trained hygienists

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• – Bi-annual inspections (x-rays when indicated) with the implantologist

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• – Hygienists trained to carry out our screening protocol for signs of early problems (eg, the beginning of peri-implantitis)

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Giving Patients The Right Information

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• Peri-implantitis leads to implant failure if undetected (or not looked for – head in the sand)

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• 15% of implant patients will suffer from some form of peri-implantitis (from recent long-term studies in Europe)

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• Patients who have lost their teeth from gum disease have a much higher risk of losing implants.

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• Patients who do not manage to keep plaque off the implants are also at higher risk.

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• Patients who smoke have a much higher risk of peri-implantitis and implant failure.

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• Patients do not know when they have peri-implantitis because it does not hurt, right up until the implant tooth falls out!

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But Look On The Bright Side!

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• We detect problems early using our screening protocol.

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• We can treat them easily in the early stages.

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• Late-stage treatment is more complex but still possible.

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And most of all, as with teeth, as with implants: keep them clean, stay off the fags, and please, please turn up for routine checks and maintenance. Implants are not a fit and forget.