The study is based on a follow-up of a small number of patients who between 1982 and 1985 received single implants to replace individual teeth. It is the longest follow-up study of its kind, according to the press release.
13 of the 16 patients who received dental implants during the period are included in the follow-up. Together, they received 18 dental implants, which is an artificial tooth root made of titanium that is surgically inserted into the jawbone and then grows in place. A crown made of another material is then placed on top of it.
"It is impressive that the single implants function so well after such a long time. Even though the study included a small number of patients, the results show that the implants are still in function and that bone loss around them is virtually unchanged after 40 years", says Sargon Barkarmo, chief dentist and university lecturer at the university, in the press release.
The crown, on the other hand, had a shorter lifespan. Only 60 percent of the original crowns remained after 40 years. They have been replaced more often for aesthetic reasons than technical, according to the press release.
