How Strong are Dental Implants?

And a couple of other dental implant questions often asked by our patients….

As you might expect, when faced with an invasive dental procedure that takes a few months to complete and involves a financial outlay, patients at the Mike Allen Dental Practice often have a few questions before making a final decision about whether or not to have dental implants placed. In this blog post, we take a look at three of the more commonly asked questions:

How strong are dental implants?

Dental implants, although small, are highly precision engineered pieces of equipment that are designed to be both strong and long lasting. In order for them to integrate correctly with the bone in the jaw, implants must be made from titanium. At our Burton dentist practice, we use one of the leading brands of dental implants; Straumann. This company has a long history in providing excellent dental equipment and is widely trusted throughout the dental world.

Another factor in the ongoing strength of dental implants is ensuring that there is sufficient bone structure into which they can be placed. When faced with a patient who has insufficient bone, a bone graft may be necessary to ensure a successful outcome.

How long will they last?

This is one of those ‘how long is a piece of string’ questions, and the honest answer is that this will vary from patient to patient. As a guide though, with proper care, the vast majority of dental implants will last for a minimum of fifteen years and very often twenty or more. Indeed, cases of them still being strong and secure after thirty years is not uncommon. Much of their longevity though comes down to maintaining a good cleaning and flossing regimen to reduce the chances of gum disease which can damage the bone in which the implants are placed. Should the bone become degraded, the implants may become less stable and eventually come out.

How painful is the procedure?

We have left the most common question until last. No one will pretend that having a dental implant placed at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, or any other come to that, is an enjoyable experience. That said though, the procedure is obviously carried out using a powerful local anaesthetic and our Burton dentist will always ensure that the area of the implant is completely numb before commencing with the procedure. Some patients experience little discomfort at all, whilst many experience only mild discomfort.

There can, as you would expect, be some soreness in the localised area following the implant but this can usually be managed with regular pain killers. Remember too, that our dental implant team are always on hand if you have any questions or are feeling concerned about anything following the procedure.

We can be contacted by calling us on 01283 845345.