Dental implants have transformed modern dentistry by offering a durable, permanent, and natural-looking solution to missing or lost teeth. The procedure involves the surgical placement of a titanium post into the jawbone which will act as the tooth root. Over time, the implant will integrate with the bone to provide a strong and stable foundation for the future artificial tooth.
While it sounds like a complicated procedure, meticulous treatment planning, exceptional surgical skills, and advancements in dental technology help create reliable smile solutions with dental implants. Statistically, dental implants boast a success rate of up to 98%, depending on factors such as implant type, bone health, and post-treatment care.
Factors Affecting Success Rate of Dental Implants
While dental implants offer long-term reliability for tooth replacement, certain factors can make or break the treatment.
Bone Health and Density
A strong and healthy jawbone is critical to the long-term success of the dental implant. Healthy bone helps the implant to properly fuse, creating the ideal foundation of the future dental restoration. If the bone is too thin or weak, bone grafting may be recommended to improve the quality of the bone.
Oral Hygiene
Proper care and maintenance, including regular toothbrushing and flossing, and routine dental check-ups, prevent complications that may compromise the long-term success of the implant treatment.
Diameter and Length of the Implant Post
The proper size and length of the post should be assessed prior to implant placement. This will enhance the stability of the implant in relation to the bone density and height.
Age of the Patient
While a certain age group is not necessarily a requirement for the treatment, younger patients may need to wait before getting the procedure done until bone growth is complete. Meanwhile, older patients may be recommended to receive bone grafting procedures to improve bone density.
Lifestyle Factors
Smoking, tobacco use, and bruxism are risk factors to early implant failure. Manage these conditions before and after surgical treatment to improve treatment success rates.
Post-Surgery Care
Following your dentist or oral surgeon’s instructions for recovery is essential to ensure that the implant will properly integrate with the bone and last a lifetime.
Success Rate by Implant Type
Considering proper patient screening, proper implant placement, and good hygiene care and maintenance, the success rate of dental implants vary between 85-95%. Certain implant types may have a lower success rate than others due to their specifications, but it still offers excellent results. Here’s a closer look at each implant type and how certain conditions affect their long-term success rate:
- Endosteal Implants
Over a ten year period, this type of implant offers 95% or higher success rate. Endosteal implant is the most common type of implant wherein the titanium post is placed directly into the jawbone. This offers excellent stability and durability for the artificial tooth, making it the most reliable type of implant. But, it is crucial that the implant is placed in healthy jawbone for best results.
- Subperiosteal Implants
If the jawbone is not sufficient enough to receive an endosteal implant, a subperiosteal implant offers an excellent alternative. With this, the implant is placed beneath the gum and on top of the jaw. The success rate for this procedure may be lower due to less bone support, making it prone to shifting over time.
- Single-Tooth Implants
A single-unit of implant is often done through endosteal procedure wherein the implant post is surgically embedded in the bone. With adequate bone support, good implant placement, and healthy gums, the stability of single-tooth implant can offer 95% or higher success rate.
- Multiple-Tooth Implants
Implants can also be used to replace multiple missing teeth. For this procedure, a few implant posts are placed across the jaw depending on the location of missing teeth. The success rate depends on proper implant placement to evenly distribute the load, preventing early implant failure.
- Full-Arch Implants
A full set of missing teeth may be supported by four to six implants that are strategically placed into the bone to offer optimal stability without the need for individual implant units. This is a cost-effective and highly successful treatment. But, it is important that the bone quality is properly assessed to ensure that the implant units can hold the load of an entire arch of teeth.
Technological Advances in Dental Implant
In the age of modern dentistry, the approach to dental implants have become more advanced to reduce complications and improve treatment outcomes.
3D imaging and CT scans create ideal treatment plans
Advanced imaging techniques create highly detailed views of the patient’s mouth, jawbone, and surrounding structures. This allows your surgical team to get a better understanding of how to accurately place the implant while reducing risks of hitting a nerve or blood vessel.
Digital impression enhance comfort and improve precision
Instead of traditional impression putty that can be messy and uncomfortable, digital scanners can be used to capture 3D images of the teeth and gums. This improves the patient experience while providing more accurate models for the implant restoration.
Computer-guided surgery ensures optimal implant placement
Computer software can be used to guide the accurate surgical placement of the implant. This reduces surgical errors, improves treatment time, enhances recovery period, and increases the longevity of the implant.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) encourages better and faster healing
These are derived from the patient’s own blood and are used to enhance healing by encouraging faster tissue regeneration. This helps with better experience as the patient undergoes the recovery period.
Dental implants offer a remarkably high success rate, making them a reliable solution to restore the beauty and function of your smile. At Arbutus Station Dental, our highly trained surgical team has created thousands of happy smiles with dental implants. With our proven track record of success, dedication in providing excellent dental care, and the use of advanced dentistry, we ensure the best outcomes for you and your smile.
If you are considering dental implants, contact us today and let us help you achieve a healthy and confident smile that lasts a lifetime!