New research has involved a research team examining a group of 13 participants that had a dental implant inserted over 40 years ago. The researchers wanted to find out how the implants had fared, and to see if they were successful. The findings underline the effectiveness of implants.
Around 40 years ago, the field of dental implants was in its infancy, with scientists and dentists trying to work together to find an effective treatment for those with missing teeth.
At the time, a study took place with 13 participants, each of whom had a dental implant inserted [1].
New research, in the format of a follow-up study, has recently taken place. In this study, a team of researchers have followed up with the original participants in order to see how effective the implants have been [1].
About Dental implants
Dental implants are artificial teeth that can be inserted into the mouth by a dentist. This is a common and rather simple procedure.
Implants look and act like a real tooth. They are very popular, and have a natural appearance. Moreover, they can assist with chewing, swallowing and can boost self-esteem.
Implants are used in cases where a person has lost a tooth or teeth. This is normally due to extensive tooth decay, trauma, or severe gum disease.
Implants are designed to be long-lasting. Past research has found that 90-95% of implants last at least 10 years [2]. Now, new research has looked into implants over a period of several decades.
The Research
The research was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. Their findings have been published in the Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research journal [1].
The research is the longest follow-up study of single dental implants in history. Therefore, this study is momentous and provides useful findings.
The original study involved 16 participants receiving implants to replace missing teeth between 1982 and 1985. The current study involved researchers following up with 13 of these 16 participants [1].
It should be noted that implants – like any tooth – are subject to significant use over time, through chewing and grinding. Therefore, wear and tear is inevitable.
The 13 participants had 18 implants between them. Incredibly, the implants had a 95.6% survival rate [1]. This is remarkable, given that the implants were placed over 40 years ago.
The researchers were impressed by the longevity of the implants, Moreover, following a clinical examination, the researchers noted that bone loss around the implants was almost non-existent [1].
Furthermore, the researchers found that complications were low. While inflammation was seen in some cases, peri-implantitis was non-existent [1]. Peri-implantitis is a damaging inflammatory process that affects tissues around a dental implant.
In many cases, a crown is attached to the implant for improved functionality. However, the researchers did find that the crowns typically had a shorter life span, with only about 60% of crowns remaining after 40 years.
Therefore, some patients had to seek a replacement crown [1]. This is something that anyone who opts for a crown following an implant should be wary of.
But otherwise, the findings were very positive. Having implants lasting over 40 years underline their effectiveness and solidifies its position as a very strong treatment option for anyone missing a tooth.
Summary
The findings prove the effectiveness of implants. Therefore, anyone that has a tooth or teeth missing may wish to consider an implant, especially given that they offer long-term results.
The researchers did point out that one of the reasons for this longevity was that the implants were given sufficient healing time [1]. This is important to follow in the modern day.
In light of the finding that crowns didn’t last as long as the implants, co-author Jan Kowar has suggested “in the future, implant treatments could be further improved with the development of new crown materials” – which could improve treatment outcomes further [3].
Fellow co-author Sargon Barkarmo said that modern day implant insertion methods “accelerate treatment and healing” and that such approaches “need long-term follow-ups and careful evaluation to ensure good results over time” [3].
Overall, this research has produced very positive findings. Seeing such effective results is promising and underlines how dental procedures can have a long-lasting positive effect.
Thinking points…
1) Dental implants are very popular, due to them offering a natural appearance, being easy to fit, and improving self-esteem. They offer an excellent choice for anyone that has had a tooth removed. Here at our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental, we offer implant services and will be happy to discuss your situation with you. We offer free consultations for anyone considering an implant. If you want to find out more, take a look on our website – https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
2) The aim is of course to always avoid needing dental implants. A good way of aiding this is to attend a dental clinic regularly for a check-up. At a check-up, a dentist will be able to analyze your oral health, check for any problems, and provide advice. You should attend an appointment at least once every six months. If you are due an appointment, make sure you book soon!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
References
[1] Barkarmo, S., & Kowar, J. (2025). Outcome of Single Dental Implants Over 38–40 Years: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research. 27 (1): e13443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cid.13443.
[2] Raikar, S., Talukdar, P., Kumari, S., Kumar Panda, S., Oommen, V. M., & Prasad, A. (2017). Factors Affecting the Survival Rate of Dental Implants: A Retrospective Study. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry. 7 (6): p351-355. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_380_17.
[3] University of Gothenburg. (2025). Dental implants still functional after 40 years, finds study. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-dental-implants-functional-years.html. Last accessed: 8th March 2025.
