Dental implants have a level of durability that can sometimes be a little bit hard to believe. When people hear that over 95% of them last for 20 years, and that many of them last a lifetime, it sometimes comes as a massive shock.
People often have questions about whether their dental implants could run into problems. For example, some patients wonder whether they should be worried about their dental implants rusting. Here’s what you should know about that possibility.
In Theory, Can Dental Implants Rust?
Dental implants typically come in three parts: there’s the metal post that’s inserted into the jaw, the ceramic restoration that simulates the tooth, and the metal abutment that connects the two of them. As you’re probably aware, metal has a chance of rusting when continuously exposed to moisture. Given that dental implants are made of metal and spend a lot of time in contact with saliva, there is some risk (albeit not a large one, as you’ll soon learn) that the metal within a dental implant can rust.
How Common Is It for Dental Implants to Rust?
While it’s a possibility for a dental implant to corrode, it’s incredibly rare for this to happen. Most modern implant dentists will coat their dental implants with an oxide layer that makes them resistant to corrosion from saliva.
While it’s not unheard of for dental implants to rust, this takes decades to happen, and only a tiny fraction of patients wind up needing to replace their implants as a consequence of this.
What To Do If You Think Your Dental Implant is Corroded
That said, dental implant corrosion is definitely something worth thinking about. If you worry that this may be affecting your restoration, it’s typically a good idea for you to tell your dentist. If you don’t do anything, corrosion could seriously weaken the integrity of your dental implants over time.
If it’s been a few decades, it may be the case that your dental implant is at the end of its lifecycle and needs to be restored.
About the Author
Dr. Donald Marks has called Pennsylvania his home for his entire life, and every day he relishes the opportunity to utilize his extensive dental knowledge to benefit his community. He also endeavors to make his patients as comfortable as possible so that he can take the stress out of getting dental care. Dr. Marks received his degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, and over the course of his career, he’s studied with some of the greatest dentists in the world.
If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (814) 826-3767.
