Dental implants are one of the best ways to restore a damaged smile; especially one that seems like your only alternative is a mouth full of dentures. One of the best things about dental implants is that they give you an almost-permanent fix to missing teeth. 

What Are Dental Implants? 

Dental implants are for patients who have one or more missing teeth. Whether you have had to have a tooth pulled due to infection, or you have lost a tooth because of some sort of injury, leaving a mouth with an empty space is only going to cause more issues (such as jaw deterioration or tooth crowding). As long as your jaw bone is healthy enough, your dentist will be able to do dental implant surgery. This involves inserting a dental implant (which acts as an anchor or an artificial tooth root) into the bone.

After the implantation process, your dentist will then send you home to heal. After a few months or so, your dentist will make sure your mouth has healed correctly and will then put a porcelain crown over the top to give you tooth functionality and a cosmetic look as well. 

Are Implants Permanent? 

Unfortunately, it's hard for a dentist to say any sort of dental process is permanent, but dental plants come close. Depending on the patient and the state of your overall oral health, your implant may last a lot longer than someone else's. On average, dental implants last about ten to fifteen years until they need to be replaced. During every one of your six-month dental cleanings, your dentist will inspect your implant and crown to make sure they are still in good condition; if there are any cracks or anything, then you may need to have it replaced sooner. 

How to Keep Your Implants Lasting Longer

The best way to ensure that your dental implants last as long as possible is to practice good dental hygiene. Doing basic things like brushing, flossing, and going to the dentist will have a great impact on how long your implants last. Additionally, tobacco usage can weaken your implants, lead to an infection, or cause oral cancer. Also, make sure that you don't use your implants as tools to do things like tear tags off of your shirt. 

To learn more about dental implants and whether or not you're a good candidate for them, reach out to a local dental center, like South Florida Dental Center.