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FrançaisHow Long Do Dental Implants Last? What the Research Shows
Medically reviewed by Dt. Şerife Kalken, dentist and founder · October 2026
Short Answer
The Implant Often for Decades, the Crown on Top for 10–15 Years
A dental implant has two parts with very different lifespans. The implant itself, the titanium root in the bone, very often lasts for decades and frequently for life. The crown or bridge on top behaves like any other crown: with good care it typically lasts around 10–15 years before it needs repair or replacement, which does not affect the implant underneath.
Below are the best numbers available, what they really mean, and the habits that decide which side of the statistics you end up on.
The Numbers
What Long-Term Studies Show
| Follow-up | Implants still in place | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | About 96%; about 93% after correcting for drop-outs | Systematic review of 18 prospective studies (Howe 2019) |
| 10 years, patients 65+ | About 91.5% in the corrected analysis | Same review |
| 20 years | About 88–92%; about 78% after correcting for drop-outs | Meta-analysis of eight studies (Kupka 2024) |
The authors of the 20-year analysis summarise it as roughly four out of five implants surviving twenty years, and stress that the long-term evidence is thin and that follow-up should never stop after the first decade. “Survival” here means the implant is still in the mouth; it does not mean it never needed any attention.
Part by Part
What Wears Out, and What Usually Does Not
| Part | Typical life | What usually ends it |
|---|---|---|
| Implant in the bone | Decades, often for life | Bone loss from peri-implantitis, or overload from heavy grinding |
| Abutment and screw | Long-lasting; screws occasionally loosen | Loosening, which is a simple repair |
| Crown on an implant | Around 10–15 years with good care | Chipping, wear, or a change in the gum around it |
| Full-arch bridge (All-on-4/6) | Many years; teeth on the bridge may need repair | Wear and chipping of the teeth, especially with grinding |
What Shortens It
The Factors That Make the Difference
- Smoking, one of the most consistent risk factors for implant loss.
- A history of gum disease, especially if it is not under control.
- Plaque around the implant. A 2015 systematic review estimated that around one in five implant patients develops peri-implantitis, the gum disease that causes bone loss around implants.
- Missed check-ups, which let reversible inflammation turn into bone loss.
- Grinding and clenching without a night guard.
- Poorly controlled diabetes and some medicines that affect bone healing.
The signs that something is going wrong, and what can be done, are on our page about dental implant failure.
Make It Last
Five Habits That Protect an Implant
Clean around it every day
Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth with interdental brushes or a water flosser.
Keep regular check-ups
A dentist and hygienist can spot bleeding gums around an implant while it is still reversible.
Wear a night guard if you grind
Grinding loads implants much harder than chewing does.
Stop smoking
Or at least cut down, before and after implant treatment.
Keep your implant records
The brand, size and batch number let any dentist find the right parts years later.
At Betadent the implant itself carries a lifetime guarantee; the conditions are on our guarantee page.
- Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: a systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent. 2019;84:9–21.
- Kupka et al.How far can we go? A 20-year meta-analysis of dental implant survival rates. Clin Oral Investig. 2024;28(10):541.
- Derks J, Tomasi C. Peri-implant health and disease. A systematic review of current epidemiology. J Clin Periodontol. 2015;42 Suppl 16:S158–S171.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long do dental implants last?
The implant itself very often lasts for decades. In a 2019 systematic review about 96% of implants were still in place after ten years (about 93% after correcting for drop-outs), and a 2024 meta-analysis found roughly four in five reaching twenty years. The crown on top usually lasts around 10–15 years.
- Do dental implants last a lifetime?
Many do, but not all. Smoking, gum disease, poor cleaning, missed check-ups and heavy grinding all shorten their life. Looking after an implant like a natural tooth gives it the best chance.
- How often does the crown on an implant need replacing?
Typically after around 10–15 years with good care, sometimes sooner with heavy grinding. Replacing the crown does not usually affect the implant underneath.
- Do implants last longer than bridges?
In systematic reviews, about 93–96% of implants survive ten years, compared with about 89% of conventional bridges. Our implant-or-bridge page compares the two in more detail.
- What is the most common reason implants fail in the long term?
Peri-implantitis, gum disease around the implant that slowly destroys the supporting bone. Daily cleaning and regular professional check-ups are the best protection.
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