Dental implants can replace missing teeth. Although dental implants are used less in the UK than in other European countries [1], their use has rapidly increased in the UK. The UK dental implant industry has grown by 20-30% within the last few years [1].
In this article, we’ll explore what dental implants are, how long they last, what factors affect their lifespan and how to make them last longer. Dental implants are usually only available privately, except for people with certain medical conditions [2]. If you’re considering dental implant surgery, our specialist oral and maxillofacial consultants can help.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a titanium screw fitted into the bone in your jaw which acts as an artificial tooth root. This creates a foundation for artificial teeth or bridges. Bridges are used to replace two or more teeth, while a single crown (artificial tooth) replaces a single tooth.
With time, your implant will fuse with the jawbone and become strongly fixed in place. This process is called osseointegration.
Some people don’t have enough bone to support a dental implant due to trauma or periodontal (gum) disease. In addition, the bone that supported a previously extracted tooth tends to gradually dissolve.
In this instance, you may be offered a bone augmentation procedure like autologous bone grafting, which adds new bone to your upper or lower jaw. This new bone is often harvested from a donor site, like your hip or shin bone.
Once the graft has healed and integrated with the underlying bone of the jaw, it can be used as a foundation for the titanium implant. Alloplastic bone grafts (artificial bone materials), xenografts (animal bone) and allografts (bone from a human donor) can be used as well, but these approaches tend to be less effective.

Why would I need a dental implant?
You may benefit from a dental implant if you’ve lost one or more teeth. Tooth decay and trauma are leading causes of tooth loss.
Dental implants are stronger than bridges, which are secured to other teeth. They create long-lasting stability by integrating your new tooth with your bone.
How long do dental implants last?
Dental implants are designed to be permanent and 90-95% of them are successful over 10 years [3]. Many dental implants last 20 years or more; however, the implant may last longer than the crown.
A crown and abutment can be attached to the implant several months after it is placed when it’s had time to bond with the bone. An abutment is a post that attaches to the implant and extends up through the gum for the crown to attach to.
Research shows that 50-80% of crowns last 15-20 years [4]. This is because the crown experiences daily wear and tear, so it is more vulnerable than the implant itself. The crown costs much less than the implant and is easier to replace.
Although generally successful, dental implants can fail in the months or years after being placed. Let’s look at the factors affecting the lifespan of dental implants in more detail.
What affects the lifespan of dental implants?
There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a dental implant. Some of these factors include:
Quality of your jawbone
If you don’t have enough jawbone to create a stable base for the implant, or if you have an underlying medical condition affecting the bone in your jaw, the implant may fail.
Your jawbone will be examined thoroughly before considering an implant; this exam may use X-rays or 3D modelling. If there is not enough bone present, you may have a procedure to create more bone to act as an implant site.
The quality of your jawbone can also decrease over time with certain medical conditions, such as osteoporosis and peri-implant disease. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become more fragile and likely to break under mechanical stress, and peri-implant disease can lead to inflammation of the gum around the site of a dental implant.
Peri-implant disease
Peri-implant disease occurs when plaque builds up around a dental implant. In its early stages, this is reversible, but it can lead to a disease called peri-implantitis if it’s not treated.
Peri-implantitis is gum inflammation, which can lead to implant failure. For this reason, good oral hygiene is very important after a dental implant.
Tooth grinding
Some people grind their teeth repetitively when they are asleep or when they’re stressed [5]. The medical name for grinding teeth is bruxism.
This can cause the screw of the implant to become loose, or the implant, screw or crown can fracture (break). This is because repetitive tooth-grinding motions can cause tiny movements of the implant which can disrupt the process of osseointegration.
How experienced your surgeon is
An inexperienced surgeon may not design your implants well, or may not place them in the best location. They may decide to attach a crown to the implant before it’s completely stable, and there’s the risk of injury to the tissues of your mouth when your implant is attached.
Harley Street Specialist Hospital’s oral and maxillofacial surgeons are highly experienced and perform dental implants regularly, as well as procedures like private wisdom tooth removal. For peace of mind, choose one of our surgeons for your dental implant.
Damage or injuries
Just like your normal teeth, the ceramic crowns attached to the implant can become cracked or damaged. Common ways to damage a ceramic crown include:
- Eating sticky or chewy foods
- Chewing hard substances like boiled sweets or ice
- Using your teeth to open bottles or packaging
- Facial trauma or injuries
Your dental implant (and natural teeth) should be limited to eating and chewing foods. Using your teeth as tools to open packaging can significantly shorten the lifespan of teeth, artificial or not.
Your dentist or surgeon may be able to fix a damaged ceramic crown without having to replace it. This depends on whether the metal root is also damaged, and the extent of the damage to the crown.
If your jaw is damaged by trauma, your dental implant could be knocked out of place like a normal tooth. If this happens, you may need to wait for your jaw to recover before having any implants refitted.
Medical conditions and medications
Certain medical conditions can impact the lifespan of your dental implant. People with cancer, mainly those receiving radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy, have a significantly increased risk of late dental implant failure [6].
People with bone cancer receiving high-dose antiresorptive therapy (ART) have a high risk of complications after implant surgery, although people receiving low-dose ART for osteoporosis had a high rate of implant survival [6].
Other medications that can reduce the success of a dental implant include blood-thinning medications and immunosuppressive drugs.
People with diabetes also have an increased risk of dental implant failure [7]. However, hypertension, coronary artery disease, gender, steroid therapy, chemotherapy, pulmonary disease and not taking hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women are not linked to any higher risk of implant failure [7].
Which teeth are replaced
The type of tooth replaced and its position in your mouth affect the lifespan of your implant. The teeth at the back of your mouth are put under more regular pressure by chewing food, so they may not last as long as a tooth that has a lesser role in chewing.
Age
Compared to people under 40 years old, people aged 60-79 have a significantly higher risk of dental implant failure [7]. A factor in this may be that older adults tend to have slower healing rates than younger people [8].
How can I make my dental implant last longer?
There are several ways to maximise the lifespan of your new dental implant. Some factors (like age) are beyond your control, but there are choices you can make to give you the best chance of a long-lasting implant.
Avoid smoking and heavy drinking
Smoking and heavy drinking can dramatically impact the lifespan of your dental implant. Smoking increases the chance of bacterial plaque building up around your implant, which can lead to peri-implantitis.
When you smoke, you reduce oxygen in your bloodstream which slows healing throughout your whole body. Your gums are more likely to succumb to an infection and are less likely to heal properly once infected. Stopping smoking around the time of surgery reduces the risk of surgical site infections [9].
You should also wait at least 72 hours after implant surgery before having any alcoholic drinks. Alcohol thins your blood, so drinking too soon after surgery could prevent the necessary blood clot from forming in your gums.
Excessive drinking also causes dehydration, which can affect recovery at any point in the healing process after surgery. If your gums become too dry, they may not heal as well as they should.
Brush and floss your teeth
Dental implants need to be cared for just like your natural teeth. Although the titanium root of the implant and its ceramic crown are resistant to decay, your teeth and gums around the implant are not.
You’ll still be at risk of gum disease once the implant is in place, and gum disease has the potential to cause implant failure. For this reason, good oral hygiene is essential for a long-lasting implant. This is also important to prevent damage to your other teeth and the need for future dental implants.
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily will improve your gum health and minimise the buildup of plaque around your implant and other teeth.
Go to the dentist every 6 months
Regular follow-ups with your dentist are important if you’ve had dental implant surgery. Your dentist will be able to identify any signs of gum disease and advise you on gum disease treatment if needed and the best ways to keep your implant healthy.

How do I know if my implant is failing?
If a dental implant is failing, you will experience some symptoms. Things to look out for include:
- Pain when chewing food or biting down
- Movement of the implant
- Signs of peri-implantitis:
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Pus
- Redness
- Receding gums
If you experience any of these signs, book an appointment with your dentist or surgeon as soon as possible.
How is a failed implant treated?
Peri-implantitis can sometimes be treated without removing the implant, especially if you haven’t lost a significant amount of bone in your jaw. The implant and surrounding area will need to be thoroughly cleaned and you will be prescribed antibiotics to heal the infection.
Your implant may need to be removed or replaced if it’s failed. This is usually done using a local anaesthetic. If you’ve lost bone around the implant, you may need to have a bone graft before you can receive a replacement implant. This can take several months.
If a failed implant can’t be replaced – or you choose not to replace it – other treatment options include dentures or dental bridges.
Dental implants at Harley Street Specialist Hospital
Our expert oral and maxillofacial surgeons have been performing dental implant surgery for many years. We can offer rapid assessment and treatment with no waiting lists, all scheduled at a time that suits you.
Our consultants are trained in dentistry and medicine and will work with you to create a holistic treatment plan. If you’re considering implant surgery, book an appointment at Harley Street Specialist Hospital.