40 Years Of Single Dental Implants & Still Functioning Well
Indeed, the University of Gothenburg has just completed a study into the effectiveness of these single teeth implants. In an amazing result all of these implants after forty years are still there and functioning well. This study is the longest follow-up review of this kind of dental implants in the world.
Study Shows Single Dental Implants Working Well Four Decades Later
The time frame considered in this study runs from 1982 -1985 up until pretty much the present. The core of the dental implant technology was the result of research discovered at the University of Gothenburg by Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark. It is essentially about how bone integrates with titanium implants. The successful outcome has meant that patients have enjoyed long lasting solutions to missing teeth with a reliable replacement. 40 years of single dental implants and still functioning well is the result of this marvellously successful oral care technology. I met a man, recently, who has personified this in that he received a single dental implant many decades ago and he shared with me that his implant is still functioning well.
Dental Implants Still Kicking Goals After All These Years
“It is impressive that the single implants function so well after such a long time. Even though the study included a small number of patients, the results show that the implants remain in place and that the bone loss around them is virtually unchanged after forty years. This confirms that the foundation Brånemark established still holds,” says Sargon Barkarmo, prosthodontist and senior lecturer at the University of Gothenburg.”
– Sargon Barkarmo, Jan Kowar. Outcome of Single Dental Implants Over 38–40 Years: A Long‐Term Follow‐Up Study. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, 2025; 27 (1) DOI: 10.1111/cid.13443
The biotech ramifications of the results shown by this long study are profound for the future of dental implant technology. Enduring functionality without associated toxicity problems between bio and tech are great harbingers of further future success.
What Is A Dental Implant?
Primarily a dental implant is an artificial tooth root, which is made of titanium. This artificial tooth root is surgically inserted into the jawbone. A process of integration occurs between titanium and bone. This provides the essential stability required for a crown to be attached to the titanium base. The successful dental implant offers both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Forty years later these groundbreaking oral care solutions continue to do the job they are intended to fulfill. It is hard for layfolk to appreciate the amount of force teeth are subject to within the human jaw – it is immense. This is why most crowns built on failing natural teeth roots invariably fail. The ability to provide a strong and stable artificial alternative is a major win for our oral health.
There is a fair amount of negative noise about dental implants which point to an unhealthy relationship between metals and human tissue and bone. This is not to deny that for some individuals with greater sensitivity this has been a problem. It is not, however, a major issue for the majority of human beings who have gone down the dental implant route. Indeed, the work of Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark has laid the groundwork for a successful dental implant industry by showing the integration facility between bone and titanium.
“There is also a rare possibility of the body rejecting a dental implant. Based on a 2019 review, researchers are investigating the risks of using dental implants made from titanium or other metals. Some people have a rare metal sensitivity that causes their body to reject metal implants. The researchers recommend that people undergo metal sensitivity testing before receiving such implants.”
– Medical News Today
Study Insights Paint a Rosy Future
“The study shows that the crowns were mostly replaced for aesthetic reasons rather than technical failures. In the future, implant treatments could be further improved with the development of new crown materials,” says Jan Kowar, prosthodontist and senior lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, and co-author of the study.”
– Science Daily
Crowns may change but the bases remained rock solid and that is the foundation of the single dental implant technology. There is always room for improvement and the evolution of the implant tech will continue to get better in a variety of areas. The most important takeaway from this study is that getting a single dental implant, if you are a suitable candidate for it, is a durable solution to losing an important natural tooth within the archway of your jaw.
40 years of single dental implants and still functioning well is a good news story in the oral care firmament. The painful truth about being human is that our teeth, in many instances, do not last the distance in terms of our life spans. Therefore, we need to have biotech solutions like dental implants to meet this shortfall. Yes, this technology is not cheap, with the average cost for a single dental implant around some $7,000 or more these days. However, this big ticket price tag must be weighed up against what it offers the recipient. Forty years plus faithful service in the chewing department may well be deserving of a gold watch or $7K. Being able to eat food stuffs that require some chewing is beyond many individuals in middle age these days. Haunting the tinned soup aisle of the supermarket can be a cruel fate for some.
In a world where federal governments resist the entreaties of dental guilds to subsidise the oral care of older Australians living in poverty the chewing stakes have never been higher. Indeed, many seniors live with daily dental pain due to their inability to afford the cost of seeing a dentist in 2025.
Disclaimer: The material posted is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Results vary with each patient. Any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. If you have any specific questions about any dental and/or medical matter, you should consult your dentist, physician or other professional healthcare providers.
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