How long will my dental work last?
How long will my dental work last? I’ve been asked this question a thousand times. My answer has evolved from years of clinical observations and understanding the biological concept of the Tooth and Body Connection. I was once told that good dentistry will last approximately 7-12 years before signs of recurrent decay, leakage or fracturing begin to set in. These cause the need to repair and restore the effected dentition. This definition of the life of “good dentistry” may be an average but there is also wide variation in the life of dental work. How is it that “good dentistry” sometimes lasts less than 2 years before needing replacement? Or conversely, after 20 years, the existing dental work in a patient’s mouth looks better than ever with no signs of failure. Assuming there are no genetic or mechanical flaws, i.e., enamel or dentin hypoplasia, bond failures, material defects, open margins, grinding or clinching of teeth, what possible explanation could there be?
It is difficult to predict how long any type of medical or dental care will last. It becomes much more predictable when the patient follows a regular routine of preventive care by visiting our office at recommended intervals. Periodic visits for preventive care enables us to detect minor problems before they become catastrophic.
