A dental implant is a long-term, discreet solution for replacing missing teeth. A dental implant itself is a titanium screw that is placed directly into your jawbone, replacing your missing tooth root. After it’s fitted, the bone surrounding your implant will gradually fuse to it, keeping the implant firmly in place. Afterwards, a crown or a denture is then fitted to the top of the implant. 

The actual surgery is just the first step of the dental implant process. The surgery to place the titanium implant in your jaw bone usually takes 1-2 hours for each implant. Once this step is complete, we need to wait several months before completing the final restoration of the tooth replacement. During this period, the implant will be integrated into the bone and, when successful, will be strong enough to support your final restoration.

Dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution to tooth loss and may last between 20 and 30 years. However, their lifespan depends on a range of factors, as is the case with many dental procedures. Key factors which can affect how long a dental implant may last includes the following:

• Oral health.
• Lifestyle choices.
• Injury or damage.
• Medical conditions.
• Location and type of tooth.

One or more of these elements can affect how long dental implants last and can also impact on your overall oral health. We advise you to discuss all the available options with your dentist before you begin treatment, so they can assess whether dental implants are the right option for you.

Whilst implants are ‘artificial’ tooth roots, a stringent oral cleaning is vital to ensure long-term health.  Plaque can collect on implant crowns and harmful bacteria may flourish, causing damage to the tissues surrounding the implant. If you have implants in areas that are difficult to reach, such as at the back of your mouth, our implant team can show you how to clean them and maintain optimal oral health.

In a very small percentage of cases (<1%), there may be experienced what is known as dental implant failure. Thankfully there are some steps you can take to protect yourself against such an outcome. Some of the most common reasons for dental implant failure are often preventable, such as infection and bone loss.

Peri-implantitis is a kind of infection that forms around the implant and inside the gums. This infection is usually the result of poor dental hygiene following a dental implant procedure, and it can lead to further bone loss and implant failure.

It is also possible that the implant may fail to integrate with your existing jawbone, if, for example, a patient suffers dental trauma after the implant procedure.

A patient needs to have a strong, healthy jawbone and gums in order for dental implants to be a viable tooth replacement option.

If you have experienced bone loss due to a tooth abscess, or suffer from oral health problems such as gingivitis, dental implants may not be for you. Book an implant consultation with dental implant expert Dr Martin Van Rensburg and he will advise you on the best treatment options for you.

Dental implant surgery does involve trauma to the gums and the jaw but, as the mouth is anaesthetised, the surgery itself should not involve undue pain. As the numbness wears off, patients may experiences some level of pain but this can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers.

A single implant will usually cause less discomfort than multiple implant surgery and some discomfort may persist for up to 10 days after implant surgery.