Are Dental Implants Safe? Learn What Research Says

Medically reviewed by Dr. Eugene Bernstein, DDS, Practice Leader, General & Cosmetic Dentistry | 25+ Years Experience | Last Updated: May 2026

Direct answer: Yes, dental implants are safe. They have a 95 to 98 percent success rate over 10 years and a 93 percent survival rate at 20 years per a comprehensive 2022 study. Dental implants are FDA-approved, made from biocompatible medical-grade titanium (or zirconia for patients with metal sensitivity), and have been used for more than 50 years. Complications affect under 5 percent of patients in the first 10 years. The biggest determinants of safety: an experienced surgical provider, adequate bone density, controlled medical conditions (especially diabetes), and consistent oral hygiene.

Success rate: 95 to 98 percent at 10 years, 93 percent at 20 years.
Material: medical-grade titanium (FDA-approved since 1976) or zirconia (alternative for metal sensitivity).
Most common complications: peri-implantitis (10 to 15 percent), mechanical issues like crown loosening (5 to 10 percent), rare nerve or sinus involvement.
Best candidate: healthy gums, adequate bone density, non-smoker, controlled diabetes, good oral hygiene.

Why Are Dental Implants Considered Safe?

Dental implants are one of the most studied medical devices in modern dentistry. They have been in clinical use since 1965 and FDA-approved in the United States since 1976. Three independent factors make them safe:

Biocompatible materials. The implant body is medical-grade titanium (Grade 4 or Grade 5 titanium alloy), the same material used in orthopedic hip and knee replacements. Titanium triggers minimal immune response and physically integrates with bone in a process called osseointegration. For the small subset of patients with metal sensitivity, zirconia ceramic implants are an alternative.
Decades of long-term data. A 2022 longitudinal study tracking patients over 20 years found that 93 percent of dental implants placed were still functioning. Shorter-term studies consistently show 95 to 98 percent success at 10 years. Decades of research confirm that osseointegration is reliable when basic surgical and patient-selection criteria are met.
Established surgical technique. Implant placement is a routine procedure with predictable outcomes. The variables that drive failure (poor bone quality, uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, untreated gum disease) are well understood and can be addressed before surgery.

Long-Term Success Rates: What the Research Says

Time after placement	Survival rate	Notes
1 year	97 to 99%	Most failures occur in the first year, almost always before osseointegration completes
5 years	96 to 98%	Mechanical issues become detectable but rarely cause failure
10 years	95 to 97%	Peri-implantitis is the leading cause of late failure
15 years	94 to 96%	Mechanical wear (crown chips, abutment loosening) increases
20 years	93%	Per 2022 longitudinal study; many implants still functioning at this point

For comparison: a traditional dental bridge typically lasts 5 to 15 years before needing replacement, and a removable partial denture is often replaced every 5 to 7 years. Dental implants outlast both restorative options by a wide margin in most patients.

Are Titanium Implants Safe? What About Allergies?

Medical-grade titanium has one of the longest safety records of any implantable material in medicine. It is used in pacemakers, joint replacements, surgical screws, and dental implants. Allergic reactions to titanium are extremely rare: published prevalence is roughly 0.6 percent of the general population, and many of those cases involve trace metal contaminants in lower-grade alloys rather than pure medical-grade titanium.

True titanium allergy: rare, ~0.6% prevalence. If suspected, your provider can order a MELISA (memory lymphocyte immunostimulation assay) blood test or a patch test before placement.
Symptoms of metal sensitivity: persistent gum inflammation around the implant despite good hygiene, skin rashes (rare), or persistent fatigue.
Zirconia alternative: ceramic zirconia implants are metal-free, biocompatible, and FDA-approved. Slightly higher cost, slightly steeper technical placement, but the safety profile is excellent. A reasonable choice for patients with confirmed metal sensitivity or strong preference.
Other metals in the implant system: the abutment and screws may contain trace nickel or chromium. Patients with known nickel allergy should specifically request titanium-only or all-zirconia hardware.

The “are implants safe” question is almost always really about two things: titanium and long-term failure. The titanium answer is reassuring: the same material has been in hip and knee replacements for 50 years, and the allergy rate is well below 1 percent. The long-term failure answer is also reassuring: 93 percent still functioning at 20 years per the latest longitudinal data. The variables that drive the rare failures are not the implant itself, they are smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and inadequate post-op cleaning.
Dr. Eugene Bernstein, DDS, Practice Leader, Gentle Dental of NJ (NYU College of Dentistry, 25+ years)

Possible Complications: What Could Go Wrong

Complications affect fewer than 5 percent of dental implants in the first 10 years. The five categories worth knowing about, ranked by frequency:

Peri-implantitis (10 to 15% lifetime). Bacterial inflammation around the implant causing bone loss. Treatable when caught early, may cost the implant if untreated. Risk reduced by daily flossing around the implant, regular cleanings, and not smoking.
Mechanical complications (5 to 10% over 10 years). Crown chips, abutment screw loosening, occasional crown fracture. Usually fixable in one visit (re-tighten the screw, replace the crown).
Implant failure to osseointegrate (1 to 3%). The implant does not bond to the bone. Almost always detected within the first 3 to 6 months. The implant is removed, the site is allowed to heal, and a new implant is placed.
Nerve injury (under 1%). Most relevant for lower-jaw implants near the inferior alveolar nerve. Symptoms: numbness or tingling in the lip or chin. Usually resolves within weeks to months. Permanent nerve injury is very rare with proper preoperative imaging (CT scan).
Sinus complications (under 1% with sinus lift, lower without). Relevant for upper back-tooth implants near the maxillary sinus. Symptoms: chronic sinus pressure, fluid through the nose. Treated medically or with revision surgery.

None of these are unique to dental implants. They are inherent to any oral surgery and are rare with proper planning. Pre-op CT imaging plus a thorough medical history catches almost all the high-risk scenarios.

Who Is the Right Candidate for Dental Implants?

The classic profile of a low-risk, high-success-rate candidate:

Healthy gums. No active periodontal disease. If gum disease is present, treatment first, implants second.
Adequate jawbone density. Confirmed by CT imaging. Bone grafting is available for patients without enough native bone, with similar long-term success when properly performed.
Non-smoker (or willing to quit). Smoking quadruples the risk of implant failure per published research. Many practices ask patients to stop smoking 2 weeks before and 8 weeks after surgery.
Controlled diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c above 8 to 9) significantly raises infection and failure risk. Well-controlled diabetes (HbA1c under 7) carries near-normal success rates.
No active infection. Active infection in the mouth or systemically should be treated first.
Realistic about home care. Implants require the same daily flossing and brushing as natural teeth, plus a 6-month professional cleaning schedule.

Patients who are NOT good candidates without modifications: heavy smokers, uncontrolled diabetics, patients on high-dose IV bisphosphonates (osteoporosis medication), patients with active gum disease, and patients with severe untreated bone loss in the jaw. Many of these patients become candidates after 3 to 6 months of medical or dental preparation.

Are Dental Implants Safe with Other Health Conditions?

MRI scans: Yes, dental implants are MRI-safe. Titanium is non-ferromagnetic. Tell the radiologist about your implants for image-quality optimization, but no safety concerns.
Cancer history: Implants are generally safe for cancer patients in remission. Active chemotherapy or recent head/neck radiation may delay placement until treatment ends. Discuss with both your oncologist and dentist.
Autoimmune conditions: Most autoimmune conditions (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome) are not contraindications, but some immunosuppressive medications can slow healing. Coordinate with your rheumatologist.
Heart disease: Most cardiovascular conditions are compatible with implant placement. Patients on blood thinners may need temporary medication adjustments. Patients with prosthetic heart valves may require antibiotic prophylaxis.
Pregnancy: Elective implant surgery is typically deferred until after delivery. The X-rays, anesthetics, and antibiotics involved are not absolute contraindications but most providers recommend waiting.
Bisphosphonate use: Oral bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Boniva) are usually compatible with implant placement after a treatment-pause discussion with the prescribing physician. IV bisphosphonates (used for cancer-related bone disease) significantly raise the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw.

How Newark, NJ Patients Can Maximize Implant Safety

Choose an experienced provider. At Gentle Dental of NJ, implants are placed by our periodontist Dr. Mark Pakan, DDS (NYU, 25+ years), with restorative crown work by Dr. Bernstein. Periodontist-placed implants benefit from specialized training in bone and gum management.
Pre-op CT imaging. Three-dimensional cone-beam CT scans show exact bone height, density, and proximity to nerves and sinus. This single step prevents most preventable complications.
Medical history review. A thorough review of medications, conditions, and habits identifies risk factors before surgery, not during.
Quit smoking 2 weeks before. Even temporary cessation reduces failure risk substantially.
Manage diabetes. If you are diabetic, get your HbA1c under 7 before surgery if possible.
Treat gum disease first. Active periodontal disease must be controlled before implant placement.
Follow post-op instructions. See implant recovery and pain relief for the day-by-day protocol, and why dairy is restricted in the first 48 to 72 hours for dietary guidance.
Commit to maintenance. Daily flossing around the implant, professional cleanings every 6 months, no neglect of small symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dental implants safe?

Yes. Dental implants have a 95 to 98 percent success rate at 10 years and 93 percent at 20 years. They are FDA-approved, made from biocompatible medical-grade titanium (or zirconia for metal-sensitive patients), and have been in clinical use for over 50 years. Complications affect fewer than 5 percent of patients in the first decade.

How safe are dental implants long-term?

A 2022 longitudinal study found 93 percent of dental implants still functioning at 20 years after placement. Long-term complications affect under 5 percent of patients over 10 years. The leading late-onset issue is peri-implantitis, which is treatable when caught early with regular dental visits.

What is the dental implant failure rate?

2 to 5 percent over 10 years. Early failure (1 to 3 percent in the first year) is usually due to inadequate osseointegration, smoking, or uncontrolled diabetes. Late failure is most often peri-implantitis. Choosing an experienced provider, having pre-op CT imaging, and managing risk factors brings the rate to the lower end of the range.

Can you be allergic to dental implants?

True titanium allergy is rare, with prevalence around 0.6 percent. Symptoms include persistent gum inflammation around the implant despite good hygiene, skin rashes, or fatigue. If allergy is suspected, a MELISA blood test or patch test confirms it. The alternative is a zirconia ceramic implant, which is metal-free and FDA-approved.

Can you get an MRI with dental implants?

Yes. Titanium dental implants are non-ferromagnetic and MRI-safe. They will not heat, move, or interfere with the magnet. Tell the radiologist about the implants for image quality optimization in head and neck scans, but there are no safety concerns.

Are zirconia dental implants safer than titanium?

Both are safe and FDA-approved. Titanium has the longer track record (over 50 years) and broader research base. Zirconia is metal-free, which appeals to patients with metal sensitivity or aesthetic preferences (zirconia is white, not gray). Long-term data on zirconia is shorter (about 15 to 20 years) but emerging studies show comparable success rates.

Who should not get a dental implant?

Patients with active gum disease, uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c above 8), heavy smoking habits unwilling to quit at least 2 weeks before, IV bisphosphonate users (cancer therapy related), pregnant patients (deferred until post-delivery), and patients with active untreated infection. Most of these are temporary contraindications and become candidates after 3 to 6 months of preparation.

How do I know if my dentist is qualified to place implants?

Look for: specialty training (periodontist or oral surgeon ideal, but well-trained general dentists also place implants), use of CT imaging for pre-op planning, FDA-approved implant brands (Straumann, Nobel Biocare, BioHorizons, Zimmer), transparent discussion of success rates and risks, and a clear maintenance plan after placement. Ask how many implants the provider has placed, what the practice’s failure rate has been, and what brands they use.

Visit Gentle Dental of NJ in Newark, NJ

290 Ferry St B2, Newark, NJ 07105 (Ironbound)
(973) 817-8888 | Schedule an Implant Consultation
Serving Newark, Ironbound, East Ferry, Belleville, Kearny, Harrison, North Ironbound, and Downtown Newark. Implants placed by our periodontist Dr. Mark Pakan, DDS (NYU, 25+ years) using FDA-approved implant systems and pre-op CT imaging.

Disclaimer

This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please schedule a consultation with our team to discuss your individual needs.