If you’ve had a new dental implant placed into your mouth, you definitely need to get a dental implant restoration. Dr. Hanks will work with your implant specialist to build a life-like, natural restoration that will fit into your mouth perfectly.
It’s sometimes a bit more difficult to tell if you need a new implant restoration for an existing implant, though. In most cases, implant restorations last about 15 years. In contrast, the metal dental implant will usually last 30+ years, and can easily last a lifetime. That means your implant restoration will wear out eventually.
So if your restoration feels loose or strange, or you’re experiencing any kind of pain or change in how the area around your implant feels, your implant restoration may have worn out. You may also want to look for signs of damage to the restoration, such as cracks, chips, or other damage to a dental crown.
This is one of the reasons why it’s important to see Dr. Hanks every six months for a
teeth cleaning and oral exam. At your routine appointments, she can check your natural teeth as well as your implants and restorations, and ensure they’re in good shape. Then, if she notices any issues with your implant restoration, she can schedule you for a follow-up and fix the problem.