How Long Do Implant-Supported Dentures Last?
Removable dentures with implant support are some of the most stable, reliable, and long-term solutions for replacing a complete set of missing teeth. For this, a series of four, six, or eight dental implants are surgically placed into your jawbone, where they will begin the process of osseointegration, or becoming part of the bone. Once osseointegration is complete, the implants can remain in the bone for life. The lifespan of the removable part of your implant-supported dentures will depend on how well you clean and take care of them, but generally can last upward of 20 years or more. The advantage to removeable implant-supported dentures is that they can be replaced if they are damaged after several years of use. The best person to check the condition of your dentures is an oral healthcare professional.
Parts of a dental implant
* Fixture (custom dental implant) sometimes popularly referred to as “screw”: The implant is inserted either directly through the skin on your gums (called the oral mucosa), or the soft tissues are folded back and the implant is inserted into the bone. After the operation, it heals under the mucosa for several weeks and is covered with a cover screw.
* Abutment (pillar/superstructure/suprastructure): The abutment is the connecting part between the implant and the actual tooth replacement. Previously, crowns were cemented onto it, but current standards are to do the attachment with a screw. This allows the prosthesis to be removed, "disassembled", and repaired at any time, and it is gentler on the surrounding tissues. The abutment is often integrated into the crown.
* Crown, bridge, or dentures: A custom tooth replacement that is mounted on an abutment and replaces one or more teeth. Today, they are most often milled from all-ceramic materials on robotic systems. Such work can be improved further aesthetically by hand.
What are dental implants and abutments made of?
Dental implants are most often made of pure titanium, but titanium alloys are also gaining ground due to their better physical properties. Mini implants with a small diameter, which are subjected to considerable mechanical stress, are increasingly being used. If the abutment (pillar/superstructure) could be seen, then it is made of more aesthetic zirconia.
There are also implants completely made of zirconium dioxide (popularly referred to as "zircon"), their advantage is that they are tooth-colored, but they have a number of mechanical disadvantages compared to titanium and are also more expensive due to lower sales and more complex production. There are also implants made of plastic or other metals, but they form a completely marginal part. The development in the field of implantology is very dynamic, and in the future, under certain conditions, implants could be "printed" from biocompatible materials such as titanium or zirconium to suit everyone.
Who can get an implant?
The patient is ready for implantation if they are in good health, has good oral hygiene, and has enough bone mass in their jaw to support the implant. During the preliminary examinations, the dentist informs the patient about the treatment and surgical procedures and the prosthetic dentist's planning.
