How many years does an Ihde implant last?

The first distinction is this: the life of the implant and the life of the bridge on top of it are two separate things. The implant is the part anchored in the bone; the bridge is the part that takes the chewing load directly, wears down and needs repairing from time to time. Most people who ask 'how many years does it last' are really asking about both together. Publications also measure the two separately, and the answers come out differently.

The most detailed prospective study we could find on corticobasal implants was published in 2019. In 87 patients treated by a single clinician in Bulgaria, 1169 one-piece implants were followed for at least 48 months. In total, the same clinician observed 5100 implants for between 12 and 57 months, and 105 of these were lost. The author writes that high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking did not affect success. It should also be noted that the author sits on the scientific board of the International Implant Foundation and is a certified instructor for the foundation.

A retrospective study published in India in 2025 covers five years. Of 5108 implants placed for full-arch and partial bridges, 154 failed; the authors give the success rate as 97 per cent. The same study also counted the bridges separately: 5 of 170 metal-acrylic bridges, 6 of 206 full-arch metal-ceramic bridges and 11 of 215 partial bridges were damaged. In other words, both implant losses and bridge damage were recorded within five years; bridge problems should be counted separately from implant losses.

Shorter studies paint a similar picture. In a prospective study published in 2022, none of the 174 BCS implants placed in 20 patients were lost over 18 months of follow-up. In another study from 2021 covering 10 patients, 4 of 157 implants failed, a survival rate of 97.5 per cent. A review published in 2025 brought together 21 articles from the past ten years: in the 13 studies reporting success or survival, the rate for intraoral implants ranged from 90.3 to 100 per cent.

Watch out for two traps when reading these figures. The first is that 'survival' and 'success' are not the same thing: survival shows that the implant is still in the mouth, while success shows that criteria such as pain, mobility and bone loss have also been met. The second is that it is common for a large overall number to be quoted while the detailed analysis is done on a smaller subgroup. For example, the detailed results of the observation of 5100 implants are given only for the 1169 implants followed for at least 48 months.

What do we not know? In our search of PubMed, we could not find the abstract of a cohort study, independent of the circle that developed the method, that followed corticobasal implants for ten years or longer. Long-term studies comparing them with conventional implants in the same patient group are also very few. implantate.com, a patient portal in Germany, also writes that there is no evidence-based information on disc implants (BOI) and that the scientific professional bodies in Germany do not recommend these implant forms; this is the portal's assessment, not an official statement from a professional body.

The manufacturer's circle gives a bolder answer. The website of the clinic in Switzerland where Ihde treats patients states that, in ideal conditions, the Strategic Implant® lasts a lifetime. This is an expectation and the company's own statement; published follow-up periods are not yet long enough to confirm it. Saying so is not belittling the method; it is knowing the limits of the information you have.

On the bridge side, there is a general framework. Cleveland Clinic writes that with good care, implants can often last a lifetime, while the crowns and bridges on them mostly last around 15 years, and that this period can vary. This information relates to conventional implant-supported prostheses. In the Implant72 protocol, the bridge fitted on day three is the final bridge; but being final does not mean it will not wear. Its life is determined by how well the bite is balanced, night-time clenching and cleaning.

The rates in the publications are an average. In your mouth, the result is decided by the points below; some are in the dentist's hands, and some are in yours.

The steps below are the framework for the years after the teeth are fitted. Your dentist sets the intervals according to how your mouth is progressing.

1. 1

   The day the teeth are fitted: bite and record

   When the final bridge is fitted, the bite is balanced. The product name, diameter and length of each implant are given to you in writing; this is the information that will prove useful years from now.

2. 2

   The first check-ups: fine-tuning

   As the gum settles into its new shape, the bite is measured again and any spots that touch first are corrected. Small differences from the first few weeks are dealt with here.

3. 3

   Daily cleaning at home

   Alongside a toothbrush, an interdental brush or a water flosser is used under the bridge. Your dentist shows you which tool suits your bridge.

4. 4

   Night guard

   If one was planned, it is worn every night. A guard wears down over time; replacing it when it does is a cheap way of protecting the bridge.

5. 5

   Regular check-ups

   A schedule is followed that is more frequent in the first year and less frequent after that. At each check-up the gum, the bridge, the screws and the bite are assessed, and X-rays are taken when needed.

6. 6

   Professional cleaning

   Build-up in places you cannot reach at home is cleaned at the clinic. These appointments can be planned together with your check-ups.

When comparing, the same measures need to be applied: how long the implant lasts, how long the bridgework lasts, and how much data supports each.

Most of the problems seen in the long term start either in the bridge or in the tissue around the implant. These are the ones discussed most often.

Much of an implant's long life lies in the habits formed in the first few months.

1. The first few weeks

   The swelling goes down and chewing gradually returns to normal. The bite is fine-tuned at check-ups, and you learn how to use the cleaning tools.

2. The first year

   Check-ups are more frequent. The gum settles around the new bridge; small problems noticed during this period are easily corrected.

3. The years that follow

   Check-ups become less frequent but continue. If a night guard is worn, it is checked for wear; if the bridge needs repairing, this is done early.

4. If you change dentist or city

   With your implant record, a new dentist can carry on the follow-up. If you do not have a record, the first step is to ask the clinic that carried out the treatment for it.

We do not give figures. But the real cost of a treatment does not end with the first bill; the care and repair items over the years also need to be taken into account.

Check-ups and professional cleaning

Regular appointments look like a small item, but they are what prevents most expensive repairs.

A night guard and replacing it

If you clench your teeth, a guard and replacing it over time is the lowest-cost investment you can make in protecting the bridge.

The bridge material

A five-year study recorded different numbers of damaged bridges for different materials. The choice of material affects the need for repairs later on.

Terms for repairs and follow-up

How things will be handled if the bridge needs repairing or a problem arises with an implant should be discussed in writing before treatment.