Dental implants are titanium screws inserted into your jawbone to act as a permanent artificial tooth root. Since the dental implant fuses to your bone, implant dentistry offers a lifelong solution for missing teeth. In fact, several studies suggest that dental implants form an even stronger bond with your jawbone than your natural tooth.
Other methods of tooth replacement do not last nearly as long as dental implants. Most dental bridges, for example, have a life expectancy of seven to ten years. Partial dentures can only be expected to last for five to ten years. For this reason, dental implants have become one of the most popular forms of tooth replacement available today.
Porcelain Crowns and Implants
Your implant will last for a lifetime, but the porcelain crown secured onto your implant may not. The useful lifespan of your porcelain crown will depend entirely on how you care for it. It is possible to keep a crown for well over twenty years, but this requires excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits to prevent decay.
Porcelain crowns may need to be replaced if they get fractured or damaged. In addition, porcelain crowns are stain resistant, so your natural teeth may become discolored more quickly than your porcelain crown. If this happens, you may decide to replace a still-functional crown for aesthetic reasons alone.
To learn more about dental implants in Northern Virginia, please contact the implant dentists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics to schedule a consultation today near McLean, Tysons Corner, Alexandria, and Fairfax, Virginia.