Do dental implants last for good?
No one can promise that an implant will stay in place for good. The Oral Health Foundation says implants that are well cared for often last a very long time, but makes clear that a set lifespan cannot be promised. Long-term figures are encouraging, but they vary:
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | About 90% of implants placed ten years ago are still present and functioning |
| Systematic review by Moraschini and colleagues (23 studies, 7,711 implants, average follow-up 13.4 years) | Average survival of 94.6%, ranging from 73.4% to 100% between studies |
| Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Success of 80 to 95% over 15 years in patients with healthy mouths; 80 to 85% over seven years in patients with gum disease |
“Survival” means only that the implant is still in the mouth, not that it has had no problems along the way. The Dental Elf’s commentary on the Moraschini review notes that the studies defined success differently; all these figures are group averages, not a forecast for you.
One finding matters if you are treated abroad: in the same review, about 70% of implant losses happened after the abutment and teeth had been fitted. For most international patients, that is the time spent at home, so follow-up there matters as much as the surgery.
Why do the implant and the crown on it last differently?
The implant is an artificial root in the bone. The crown, bridge or denture attached to it takes the chewing load directly and is made of different materials. A 2012 systematic review of 46 studies by Jung and colleagues shows the difference: after ten years, 95.2% of the implants were still in place, but only 89.4% of the single crowns on them. Over five years, the review recorded these technical problems:
| Problem | Five-year rate |
|---|---|
| Loosening of the screw that holds the crown | 8.8% |
| Crown coming loose (loss of retention) | 4.1% |
| Chipping or fracture of the ceramic | 3.5% |
The authors describe technical, biological and aesthetic complications as frequent. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says that, as with crowns and bridges, the teeth on implants wear over time and may need replacing, and that the clips or screws holding implant dentures can break or wear out. Leeds Teaching Hospitals adds that the porcelain of crowns or bridges can chip and that a restoration can come off.
So a new screw, a repair or a new crown after some years does not mean the implant has failed. A dentist near your home will often do this work and will need to know exactly which implant you have. How implants compare with bridges over time is covered in our guide to choosing between a dental implant and a bridge.
What shortens the life of an implant?
Leeds Teaching Hospitals lists the factors that make implant loss more likely: smoking, poor oral hygiene, a history of gum disease, radiotherapy to the jaws, poorly controlled diabetes and certain medicines such as bisphosphonates. Cambridge University Hospitals says smokers have a much greater failure rate and that grinding the teeth can overload implants.
On grinding, a 2025 meta-analysis in Dentistry Journal by Ionfrida and colleagues found the odds of implant failure to be about 4.7 times higher in people with bruxism. The authors also consider bruxism a probable risk factor for mechanical problems with implant crowns, but point out that it was often self-reported, which makes results hard to reproduce. If you clench or grind, tell your dentist at home as well as us.
The most common biological threat is inflammation caused by plaque around the implant. How it develops and how to prevent it is explained in our guide to peri-implantitis; how to clean each type of implant restoration is covered in caring for teeth on implants.
Who looks after your implants at home, and how often?
For most international patients, the long-term care of implants happens at home. The General Dental Council advises speaking to your own dentist before travelling abroad for treatment, as they should know about your plans in case of later complications. Ask them at that point whether they will take on check-ups and maintenance for implants placed elsewhere.
Hospital implant services can work the same way: Cambridge University Hospitals does not provide ongoing maintenance for the implants it places and asks patients to see their local dentist or hygienist every three to six months over the long term. Other guidance on intervals:
- NHS: the time between ordinary check-ups can vary from three months to two years, and your dentist should suggest it based on your oral health.
- European Federation of Periodontology (EFP): its 2023 guideline recommends regular supportive care for people with implants, even while the tissues are healthy; in the studies behind it, intervals were tailored to the patient or ranged from 3 to 12 months.
- A starting point: the same guideline recommends recording probing measurements around implants within three months of the final restoration being fitted, so that later check-ups can be compared with them.
Your dentist at home sets your interval. If your final teeth were fitted in Türkiye, book your first check-up at home before you fly back.
Which records should you bring home from Türkiye?
Years from now, a dentist who has never met you may need to repair or replace the crown on your implant. The American Dental Association’s standard on a minimal dental implant data set (ANSI/ADA Standard No. 172) says that caring for patients with implants requires accurate information about them, covering each implant, abutment and screw, and that this information should be recorded in the patient’s file and made available to the patient.
Keep these together, with a photo of each on your phone:
- Implant card: it carries the official label the manufacturer supplies with each implant, with details such as diameter, length and batch (lot) number, and a QR code that confirms the implant is genuine.
- Written treatment plan: it names the make and model of your implant.
- Treatment summary: you receive a copy at the end of treatment.
- X-ray copies: international patients receive copies of their X-rays.
If something your dentist would want is not in these documents, such as the material of your crown, ask before your flight home.
Which signs mean you should not wait for your next check-up?
According to the Oral Health Foundation, plaque around an implant can lead to red, sore or swollen gums, bleeding around the implant, infection and, eventually, loosening or loss of the implant. See a dentist promptly if you notice:
- red, sore, swollen or bleeding gum around an implant
- signs of infection around an implant
- an implant, crown or bridge that feels loose
- chipped porcelain, or a crown or bridge that has come off
- a removable implant denture that no longer holds as it did
Whom to contact:
- For an examination, your dentist at home, or a local emergency dentist if it cannot wait.
- Us, on WhatsApp, with photos and a short description, so that the next steps can be discussed. Photos cannot replace an examination.
- If swelling makes breathing or swallowing difficult, or bleeding is heavy, local emergency services straight away.
More on what to do after you return is on our aftercare and follow-up page.
How does Rönesans prepare you for the years after implant treatment?
Implants and prosthetic dentistry are among our clinic’s branches in Serdivan, Sakarya. Crowns and bridges are made with CAD/CAM at the dental laboratory we work with. Before treatment starts, you know which dentist will treat you and receive a written treatment and cost plan, which also names the make and model of your implant.
At the end of treatment, you receive your implant card with the manufacturer’s label and QR code, a copy of your treatment summary and copies of your X-rays, so that your dentist at home has the details they need. Follow-up after treatment follows a defined process. Once you are home, you can send photos and questions on WhatsApp at +90 532 363 49 54 and forward your dentist’s questions to us there; during opening hours we reply in English and German within 15 minutes. You can also call our head office on +90 264 606 09 43 or use our contact page. We are open Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00 and Saturday 10:00–19:00, Türkiye time.
The stages of treatment and our conditional warranty for implant treatment are explained on our dental implants page.