Dental implants are an excellent tooth replacement option. They mimic the look and function of natural teeth, while maintaining the health of the underlying jawbone. Unfortunately, there isn’t a tooth replacement option so advanced that it is invulnerable to damage. So, can dental implants get stained?

Can Dental Implants Get Stained?

The crown of your dental implant, which is the visible part showing past the gumline, may develop stains as a result of consuming staining foods and drinks. Sadly, the materials used to make the crowns of dental implants do not respond to professional whitening treatments.

As a result, you will need to take special care to prevent staining on your dental implants in Bloomington to get the most out of each dental crown.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Your dental implants are permanent. As long as they are placed correctly by your dentist in Bloomington and you follow the appropriate care guidelines, the post that goes into your jaw and the abutment that attaches your dental crown to the post should last for most, if not all, of your life.

The case is a little different for your dental crowns. They are the third component of your dental implant. This piece is exposed to the most everyday wear and tear. In fact, your dental crowns are the only part of your dental implant that is exposed directly to the oral cavity and everything that enters your mouth.

How Often Do Dental Crowns Need to Be Replaced?

On top of the increased exposure, your dental crowns are usually made of a resin composite or porcelain. Both of these materials work well. This is due to the fact that they can mimic the look of a real tooth. And they have the ability to color-match the surrounding teeth. They’re also rather sturdy. Typically, they nearly match the toughness of your real teeth. But they do tend to degrade over time.

On average, you can expect a resin composite crown to last about five years before it needs to be replaced due to physical damage. By comparison, your average porcelain crown lasts about ten before requiring replacement. Of course, both crown types can last longer with a solid oral hygiene routine. These are simply the average lifespans of each.

Why Are Dental Implants Vulnerable to Staining?

When we talk about staining on dental implants, we are only referring to the crowns. The post and abutment are both made with medical-grade metals and hidden beneath the gum line. So these parts are not vulnerable or relevant to concerns over visible staining.

By contrast, resin composites and porcelain are both porous materials. This trait is partially responsible for their resemblance to your natural teeth, but it also means that the dyes found in food and drink can penetrate the surface of both materials and cause permanent staining.

As mentioned above, the major difference is that dental crowns do not respond to whitening treatments the way that your natural teeth do, so it’s important to be careful if you want to avoid significant staining on a crown before it needs to be replaced for other reasons.

How to Avoid Staining Your Dental Crowns?

Total avoidance of dyes isn’t usually a practical solution. However, using straws, rinsing your mouth with water after consuming staining products, and brushing 20-30 minutes afterward are all great ways to reduce the risk of staining to your real teeth as well as your dental crowns.

With proper oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist every six months, you can keep your dental crowns in ideal shape for much longer. They can look almost brand new up. Though they may need replacement due to physical wear and tear.