Comparing the Strength of Dental Implants and Natural Teeth

While implants aren’t quite as durable as your natural teeth, the fact that they’re made from titanium means they’re still extremely tough and built to last decades. The takeaway is that as long as you take good care of your implants, you can enjoy a beautiful, confident smile for many years to come.

Dental Implants vs Real Teeth: Which Are Stronger?

Durability

When it comes to durability, dental implants have the edge over natural teeth. Implants are made of titanium, a metal that fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This creates a very strong base that can last a lifetime with proper care. Natural teeth, on the other hand, slowly deteriorate over time and are more prone to damage, decay, and breakage.

Withstanding Pressure

Dental implants can withstand much stronger biting and chewing forces than natural teeth. Implants are custom-made to match your natural teeth and jaw structure, so they can handle the same pressures real teeth experience daily with no problem. Natural teeth become more sensitive and prone to damage over time, often requiring fillings, crowns, or other restorations to remain functional under pressure.

Preventing Bone Loss

Another benefit of dental implants is that they help prevent bone loss in the jaw. The titanium posts of implants actually stimulate bone growth, keeping the jawbone strong and healthy. When natural teeth are lost, the bone that once supported them begins to deteriorate over time. Implants can stop and even reverse this process, preserving your facial structure and smile.

Long Term Maintenance

While dental implants do require good daily hygiene and regular dental checkups, they generally need less long-term maintenance than natural teeth. Implants are not susceptible to cavities, and with proper care, they can last a lifetime. Natural teeth, on the other hand, frequently develop cavities and often require fillings, crowns, root canals, and other treatments to remain healthy, even with the best dental hygiene. Overall, dental implants may require less time, money, and hassle to maintain in the long run compared to natural teeth.

Factors That Impact Dental Implant Durability

Material Used

As patients looking into dental implants, we want to know which option will last the longest. When it comes to durability, the material the implant is made of matters most. Titanium is considered the gold standard due to its strength and biocompatibility. Zirconia implants are also very durable and natural-looking. Porcelain-fused-to-metal implants tend to be the weakest.

Jawbone Density

The density of our jawbone also plays a key role in how well implants can anchor and how long they may last. Denser bone provides more surface area for the implant to fuse with, creating a stronger bond. For those with less dense bone, bone grafting is often recommended to build up bone before implant placement.

Oral Hygiene

Just like natural teeth, dental implants require good oral care to prevent problems. Brushing teeth twice a day, flossing daily, regular dental checkups and cleanings are musts. Bacteria buildup can lead to inflammation, infection and even implant failure if left untreated.

Habits

Certain habits can put extra stress on dental implants and reduce their longevity. Teeth grinding or clenching, nail biting, chewing on hard objects, and tobacco use should be avoided. These habits can cause implants to loosen or crack over time. Breaking these habits and wearing a nightguard can help prevent damage.

Overall Health

Conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis or cancer treatments can interfere with the healing process and affect dental implant success rates. Patients with these conditions may require extra checkups, bone grafting, or other procedures to ensure implant durability. Close communication with dentists and physicians is important for the best outcome.

With the right factors in place, dental implants can last many years and provide a lifetime of functionality and confidence. But patients must do their part to support implant health and longevity. Keeping up good oral care, breaking bad habits, maintaining overall health and getting regular checkups are keys to success.

How Dentists Install Sturdy Dental Implants

As dentists, we take great care to ensure your dental implants are strongly installed and built to last. The process begins with a consultation to evaluate your oral health and bone structure. We need to make sure your gums and jawbone are healthy enough to support implants.

If you’re a candidate for implants, we numb the area to ensure your comfort.
We then open your gums to expose the bone. Next, we drill pilot holes into the bone and screw the titanium implant posts in place. These posts act as tooth roots to anchor your new teeth. The posts need time to fuse to your jawbone, so we close the gums over them for several months.

Once the posts have integrated into your bone, we open your gums again to attach abutments—the parts that connect the posts to your new teeth. We take impressions of your gums so the dental lab can create teeth that match your natural teeth. Finally, we secure your new teeth to the abutments, completing your smile makeover.

The key to success is following up with diligent at-home care and regular dental checkups. With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last a lifetime. However, some factors like smoking or health conditions may reduce the lifespan or increase the risk of complications. We work closely with patients to minimize risks and keep implants functioning well for as long as possible.

Dental implants provide the strongest and most natural-looking tooth replacement option. When done right by a skilled dentist, implants can give you back your smile and the ability to eat your favorite foods with confidence again. We take our responsibility seriously to provide you implants that are built to last and enhance both your oral and overall health for life.

Caring for Your Dental Implants

Once you have dental implants placed, it’s critical that we properly care for them to ensure their longevity and effectiveness. Dental implants can last a lifetime with good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.

Daily brushing and flossing

We need to brush our implants at least twice a day with a soft bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste, just like our natural teeth. Be gentle around the implant site for the first few weeks as the gums heal. Flossing is also important to remove debris from between the implants and natural teeth. Our hygienist will show us how to properly floss around implants.

Avoiding bad habits

Certain habits can damage or loosen implants like chewing on hard foods, ice, pens or fingernails. We should avoid these habits and be mindful of what goes into our mouth. Smoking also reduces blood flow to the gums and can slow the healing process. Quitting smoking will benefit both our dental implants and overall health.

Regular dental visits

Seeing our dentist for a professional cleaning and exam every six months is key. The dentist will check for any signs of infection or loosening of the implants. X-rays may be taken to monitor the bone levels around the implants. Any issues can be addressed quickly before becoming serious problems.

Replacement teeth

For those with implant-supported dentures or bridges, we need to remove and clean them daily like our natural teeth. Soak them overnight in a denture cleaning solution at least once a week to prevent stains and bacteria buildup. See our dentist regularly to have them checked and adjusted to ensure a proper, comfortable fit.

By following good oral care and hygiene at home and with regular dental checkups, our dental implants can provide us with a lifetime of function and confidence. Be sure to contact our dentist if we notice any pain, swelling, or increased sensitivity around the implants. The earlier any problems are detected, the easier they are to treat. With diligent self-care and professional monitoring, dental implants offer a permanent solution for missing teeth. Are you looking for a dental implant in Peachtree Corners? Request an appointment here: Schedule Appointment or call Norcross Complete Dentistry at 678-288-4888. We also serve neighboring towns including Norcross, Duluth, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Berkeley Lake, Suwanee, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven.