I notice this question on social media today: “How long are the implants supposed to last?” The short answer is that dental implants themselves can actually and predictably last several decades or a lifetime. In a nutshell, here’s how I answered that very good question.

I've mostly been on the professional side of implant dentistry (working with dentists) for 23 years. I’ve recently begun teaching the general public how to make implants affordable so that more people can benefit from them.

Dental Implants vs. Prosthetic Teeth

For starters, full mouth dental implants consist of two main parts: 1. The dental implants. These are the screws that were surgically placed inside of the your jawbone.

2. Your prosthetic teeth. Sometimes patients wrongly refer to these as implants as well. But these are prosthetic teeth that were bolted down to the dental implants. The prosthetic teeth are what allows you to chew your food and have a beautiful smile.

Best You Can Do to Keep Your Dental Implants for Life

All things considered, the best thing you can do for implant longevity is to keep your prosthetic teeth clean on a daily basis. A water pic is best if you have full mouth implants. Also, see the dentist office for evaluations and professional cleanings per your dentist's recommendation. Usually this will be twice per year.

I always tell individuals that you need your mouth evaluated regularly because, if for instance, a prosthetic screw (the tiny screw that attaches your teeth to the implants) happens to become loose for an extended period of time it can cause problems with the implants that your prosthetic teeth are sitting on.

Only the dentist can re-tighten that screw. As long as your implants were well placed and your prosthetic teeth and bite was designed well, assuming your homecare is good, and you see the dentist regularly, your implants themselves (that are in your bone) can potentially last you a life time. Kicking any smoking habits will also support the longevity and health of your dental implants.

The 20 year life expectancy being discussed is really about the prosthetic teeth that sit on top of the implants, not the implants themselves that rests beneath your jawbone.

Why Does Implant Prosthetic Teeth Need to Be Replaced?

The implant prosthetic teeth quite naturally can wear down over time just based on daily chewing and biting. How long the prosthesis last has to do with the materials used and the individual. For some, the full mouth prosthetic teeth may last 10 or 15 years. For others the prosthetic teeth can last 25+ years.

The best way to think of your implant prosthetic teeth are like tires on a car. You buy a new car and you expect to replace the tires every 25,000 or 35,000 miles because of wear. Since the engine and the rims are still good you simply replace the tires and keep rolling.

The implants that were surgically placed in your jawbone are like your car engine and the rims that support the tires. But the prosthetic teeth are like your tires, they will wear down over time with daily use. The prosthetic teeth are not the implants.

Keep Your Dental Implants for Life, Replace Prosthetics as Needed

Again, you're best bet is to keep the bone that supports your dental implants healthy through good daily hygiene. The way to achieve this is with good daily cleansing around your gums and prosthetic teeth.

Do this and the implants can "potentially" last you a lifetime. In fact, there are documented cases of people having the same implants for 40+ years or until death.

Even if you have to replace your prosthetic teeth (not the implants) after 10, 15 or 20 years due to the wear and tear of daily use, you're still coming out on top. Like tires on a car, It’s been a great investment.

The good news is that the cost of replacing your implant prosthetic teeth will not be as expensive as when you got them originally as a part of the implant surgery. Assuming your implants are still healthy, there will be no surgery involved.