WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS ? 

A dental implant is a prosthetic part  (metallic cylinder made of titanium) that is surgically inserted into the jawbone in order to replace one or more missing teeth. It is preferable that the placement is done soon after the extraction of the teeth because the bone surrounding the tooth is absorbed as the days pass. The duration of the treatment with dental implants depends on the area of the jaw where they will be placed. Implants are not placed before adulthood and the completion of growth. The implants do not get cavities, but they can become diseased from a condition called peri-implantitis. They need regular check-ups and care; it is advisable to avoid smoking and neglecting oral hygiene because they are serious reasons for pathological behavior within the bone background. 

     DO DENTAL IMPLANTS LAST? 

The lifetime of implants depends on some basic conditions. These conditions relate both to the correct technique of the dentist’s and to the individual care of the patient’s oral hygiene. The success of the implants depends on their integration and can be affected by the accumulation of microbes. If present plaque is not systematically removed by daily brushing of the teeth and regular cleaning by the dentist, inflammation of the gums can occur, leading to peri-implantitis. At an advanced stage of peri-implantitis, we can have loss of the implant. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the oral hygiene instructions, otherwise the patient may lose the tooth. Other factors that affect the lifespan of implants are smoking, patients who belong to the osteopenia or osteoporosis category and are treated with bisphosphonates have a higher risk of osteonecrosis, as well as patients who have undergone chemotherapy-radiotherapy should be consulted with the doctor who is treating them for better results.