Survival and success
Survival means the implant is still in the mouth at the follow-up visit.1 The figures below are survival rates.
The 10-year figure
Howe, Keys and Richards published a systematic review and meta-analysis in the Journal of Dentistry in 2019.1 It included 18 prospective studies of contemporary implants (solid screw, roughened surface) in adults followed for 10 years.1
| Analysis | 10-year implant survival |
|---|---|
| Standard meta-analysis | 96.4 percent (95 percent CI 95.2 to 97.5) |
| Sensitivity analysis accounting for patients lost to follow-up | 93.2 percent (95 percent CI 90.1 to 95.8) |
| Age 65 or older, sensitivity analysis | 91.5 percent |
The authors described the sensitivity analysis as a more realistic estimate of real-world risk, showing a possible doubling of implant loss risk in older age groups.1
By type of restoration
| Restoration | 5 years | 10 years | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implants under single crowns | 97.2 percent | 95.2 percent | Jung 20122 |
| Implants under fixed bridges | 95.6 percent | 93.1 percent | Pjetursson 20123 |
| Zirconia implants | 97.2 percent | not available | Roehling 20234 |
| Zygomatic implants | 95.21 percent at 12 years | Chrcanovic 20165 |
The first year
Across 26 randomized trials comparing loading times, mean implant failure in the first year was 2.5 percent.6
What lowers survival
- Smoking. 6.35 percent failure in smokers versus 3.18 percent in non-smokers across 107 studies.7
- History of periodontitis. Hazard ratio 1.75 for implant loss.8
- Older age. Lower survival at 65 and over in the sensitivity analysis.1
How to read a quoted rate
- Ask which study it comes from and how many years it covers.
- Ask whether it is implant survival, restoration survival or success.
- Ask whether patients lost to follow-up were counted.
General information about dental implants. Treatment decisions are made with a licensed dentist.
Sources
- Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent 2019;84:9-21. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Jung RE et al. Survival and complications of single crowns on implants: systematic review. Clin Oral Implants Res 2012. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Pjetursson BE et al. Survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses. Clin Oral Implants Res 2012. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Roehling S et al. Clinical and radiographic outcomes of zirconia dental implants. Clin Oral Implants Res 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Chrcanovic BR et al. Survival and complications of zygomatic implants: updated systematic review. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2016. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Esposito M et al. Different times for loading dental implants. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Chrcanovic BR et al. Smoking and dental implants: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Annunziata M et al. Implant therapy in patients with and without a history of periodontitis. J Periodontal Res 2025. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
