Is the cost-effectiveness of dental implants favorable in long-term use?
Someone asked, “I’ve been missing a tooth for two months due to an accident and have been hesitating between removable dentures and dental implants. I’m worried that the removable denture might feel too foreign for me. I’ve learned about dental implants before and am satisfied with every aspect except for the price. But how long can dental implants last? Is it cost-effective in long-term use?”
Dental implants often last longer than many people’s permanent teeth, and their lifespan is increasing. With technological advancements, dental implants crafted by Advanced Technologies China Dental Laboratory now look even better than real teeth.
The longest-lasting dental implant has been in use for 49 years, longer than many people’s permanent teeth. The world record holder is Sven Johansson, a taxi driver from Sweden. In 1967, at 42 years old, he underwent a dental implant surgery. Now, at 91, his dental implant, which supports a full set of fixed dentures, remains in excellent condition. This represents the longest-standing record of dental implant use, which continues to be updated daily.
Someone might ask, you’re talking about decades ago. What about now? Has the lifespan of dental implants changed?
01 Absolutely, there have been changes. Today’s China dental implant system is more scientific and comprehensive, with more advanced technology and materials, resulting in higher safety coefficients, success rates, and survival rates. The lifespan of dental implants for patients today should significantly exceed that of 40 years ago.
02 Forty years ago, dental implants had nearly stringent requirements for patients’ jawbone conditions. Nowadays, immediate implant placement after tooth extraction, immediate loading, computer-aided implant surgery, minimally invasive implant surgery, soft and hard tissue grafting and augmentation techniques have made it almost impossible for a patient to be ineligible for dental implants.
The lifespan of dental implants is up to you. “Dental implants are like buying a car. If you drive it on mountain roads every day and never maintain it, even a high-end luxury car won’t last long.” Therefore, as long as you choose dental implants provided by an International China Outsourcing Dental Lab, a suitable implant system, and an experienced surgeon, the lifespan of your dental implants depends on your postoperative and daily care. In other words, you determine the lifespan of your dental implants:
Postoperative Care:
- Routine use of antibiotics postoperatively. For simple implant surgeries (few implants, short surgical duration, good patient recovery), oral antibiotics are prescribed. Complex surgeries require intravenous antibiotics to prevent infection.
- Avoid brushing teeth and rinsing with water within 24 hours postoperatively. Excessive rinsing can cause bleeding. However, use an antiseptic mouthwash after meals to prevent food residue. You can eat and drink moderately after 2 hours, but avoid hot food.
- Postoperative pain. Patients usually experience only mild discomfort or pain, which does not require painkillers. However, sensitive patients or those feeling more pain may take painkillers on the day of surgery. Normally, patients should no longer experience continuous pain after 24 hours.
- Postoperative reactions. Due to variations in patient constitution and surgical procedures, there may be different degrees of surgical reactions. Some patients may have mild or no reactions, while others may experience local swelling and bruising, typically lasting 3-5 days.
- Prevent infection. Routinely remove sutures 7-10 days postoperatively to prevent local infection.
Daily Care:
- Maintain good oral hygiene and clean dental implants daily. Besides brushing your teeth twice a day and rinsing your mouth after meals, pay special attention to the hygiene of the dental implant neck and surrounding gum tissue.
- Brush gently to avoid directly stimulating or damaging the gum tissue around the implant. Use dental floss or interdental cleaners for the adjacent surfaces of implants or perform periodontal massage under a doctor’s guidance.
- Smoking increases the incidence of peri-implantitis. Therefore, reduce smoking after implant surgery and ideally quit smoking.
- Allow dental implants to bear chewing functions reasonably and avoid excessive force. Due to variations in bone quality and overall health, the hardness and toughness of food that dental implants can chew vary. Patients should follow doctors’ advice and gradually find suitable foods for dental implants to maximize their effectiveness.
- Regular follow-up and medical care. Visit a reputable dental clinic at least every six months for cleaning both dental implants and natural teeth to remove plaque and calculus that regular brushing cannot remove. Also, have a doctor regularly check for loose connections between implants and natural teeth or bite coordination issues. If abnormalities are found, the doctor can promptly address them.
- Frequently observe the implant and the surgical site. If you notice any issues, promptly inform your doctor for timely care.
