How Long Does a Full-Arch Implant Last? A Guide for Busan

• The KDCA states that implants do not last forever. There is no set number of years for a full-arch implant; it depends on care and checkups.
• A full-arch implant has many posts in the bone with a joined prosthesis on top. When something goes wrong, the response depends on which part is affected: tightening, repair, remaking or removal.
• In a study across 13 university and general hospitals in Korea, failed implant prostheses had been used for about eight years on average. Linked factors were the number of implants, years of use and plaque levels.
• Patients with late failures had one thing in common: they skipped checkups and came in after the implant felt loose.

At full-arch implant consultations in Seomyeon, Busan, patients often ask how many years it will last and whether they will have to start over later. With many implants joined into one piece, the lifespan is even harder to state as one number. For patients living in or visiting Korea, we provide 1:1 English interpretation from your first consultation through the end of treatment.

How long does a full-arch implant last?

The KDCA's dental implant page opens its summary with a plain statement: implants do not last forever.

It adds that thorough oral hygiene and regular dental checkups are essential for long, healthy use. Nowhere does it promise a number of years.

Asan Medical Center in Seoul describes the success rate as almost 95% or more. But it adds that results differ with health and resistance, oral hygiene, and regular checkups and maintenance.

It also warns that with poor care, inflammation can dissolve bone and the implant can come out. The same treatment can turn out differently depending on how it is looked after.

Seoul National University Hospital says something similar. If implants or prostheses are not kept clean, their lifespan can be shortened. Smoking, heavy drinking and excessive chewing force also cause damage.

So before asking "how many years," ask "what goes wrong, and why?" For a full-arch implant, this question matters even more.

What can go wrong with a full-arch implant, and what is done?

According to the KDCA, an implant has three parts.

• An artificial root placed in the bone (the fixture).
• A connecting post between the fixture and the prosthesis.
• The artificial tooth on top (the prosthesis).

The artificial tooth is fixed with cement or a screw. The firm bond between the post and bone is called osseointegration, the core principle of implant treatment.

A full-arch implant has many sets of these parts. A joined prosthesis sits on several posts, so finding exactly where the problem lies comes first.

The KDCA describes problems after treatment part by part. Force from chewing hard or tough food can cause breakage.

A damaged prosthesis is repaired or remade. A loose screw is tightened again or replaced. If the implant in the bone breaks, it is hard to reuse and must be removed.

Asan Medical Center adds that with long use, prosthesis screws can loosen and the teeth may wobble slightly. If they are not tightened again, the screw can be damaged or gum disease can develop.

In other words, a problem with a full-arch implant does not mean starting over. The size of the fix depends on whether it is a screw, the prosthesis or a post in the bone.

How should the study numbers be read?

A 2018 study in the Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics assessed prostheses of patients at 13 university and general hospitals nationwide. It included 475 implant cases.

Failed implant prostheses had been used for 7.99 years on average, with a median of seven years. The linked factors were the number of implants, years of use and the plaque index.

This number needs careful reading. It does not mean every implant prosthesis fails at eight years. It is the average time the failed ones had been in use.

In the same study, failed fixed prostheses such as bridges had been used for 11.41 years, and removable dentures for 8.18 years. Every type of prosthesis can fail at some point during use.

The patients were seen at hospital prosthodontics departments, which is worth keeping in mind. Still, plaque build-up appearing as a factor shows how much care counts.

A 2019 study from Jeonbuk National University gives another angle. One prosthodontist treated and followed 364 fixed implant crowns on back teeth.

Three- and five-year cumulative survival was 97.5% and 91.0%. Counting complications, cumulative success was 61.1% and 32.9%. Staying in the mouth is not the same as needing no repairs.

The most common complication was loss of contact with the neighboring tooth, in 53 cases. Loss of retention (17) and inflammation around the implant (12) followed. The team concluded that regular checkups and repair or adjustment are very important.

A retrospective study reported by Dailydental analyzed 26 implants in 17 patients removed or retreated at a university hospital in Jeju. Failure was diagnosed after 2.79 years on average, half early and half late.

Another study followed 51 upper back-tooth implants placed with a sinus lift at Seoul National University Dental Hospital for up to ten years. Cumulative survival was 92.2% at one year, 88.2% at five and 85.4% at ten.

Smokers had 7.52 times the risk of non-smokers in that study. Full-arch implant treatment often involves this kind of extra surgery in the upper jaw, so smoking is worth keeping in mind.

What did patients with late failures have in common?

In the Jeju study, nine patients had a late failure, after they had started using the prosthesis. They shared these traits.

• They did not keep their regular checkup dates.
• They came in after a functional problem, such as a loose implant.
• The prosthesis shape trapped food, raising the risk of inflammation.
• They had not been taught enough about care.

Dailydental headlined the study with the finding that half of failures came from poor maintenance. Late failures made up half of all failures.

The KDCA explains why. With peri-implantitis, the implant does not wobble even when bone is badly destroyed. Function seems fine too, so the time to treat is often missed.

A 2025 presentation by the Korean Academy of Periodontology points the same way. It said 43% of implant patients had peri-implant mucositis and 22% had peri-implantitis.

Yet 89.4% of implant patients said they skipped aftercare because they felt no discomfort. The society stressed regular checkups, since problems have often progressed by the time symptoms appear.

Risk factors named in the presentation were poor oral hygiene (3.8 times), smoking (5.89 times) and uncontrolled diabetes (2.75 times).

The Jeju researchers advised short intervals between visits early on after the prosthesis is fitted, to check the prosthesis and bite closely. Later, regular checks and X-rays still help a great deal with prevention.

Why does a joined prosthesis need extra care?

A full-arch implant has its own issue: many posts are tied into one prosthesis. Professor Woo Yi-hyung, then head of Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital, wrote about this in a 2010 lecture article.

When one piece sits on several implants, passive fit matters. Without it, screws at the joints often loosen. In severe cases a screw breaks and the patient must come back.

He also notes that if one or two implants fail, the existing fixed prosthesis can fail as a whole. This does not apply equally to every design, however.

Screw loosening is common too. A Wonkwang University thesis reported by Dailydental followed 1,928 implants in 837 patients for 31.5 months on average.

Screws loosened in 7.2% of implants, and 50.4% of those cases happened within six months of use. Of the loosened implants, 22.3% loosened again. There were two screw fractures.

These results alone cannot settle the design question. A 2021 case report cites the opposite finding. In full-arch fixed restorations with many crowns, complications were significantly more common with cement retention.

The same report notes an advantage of screw-retained prostheses. If a complication arises, the prosthesis can be removed through the screw holes. For that reason, the back sections were screw-retained.

An overdenture-type full-arch implant needs different upkeep. Professor Woo lists broken clips, weaker retention and loose magnets, and says patients should be told in advance.

In the end, small problems in a full-arch implant should be found before they spread. Asan Medical Center advises visiting right away if anything feels wrong. Do not wait for your next checkup.

How is it decided whether treatment must be redone?

For a full-arch implant, it depends on what went wrong. A loose screw may just need tightening or replacing. A broken prosthesis may just need repair or remaking.

If a post in the bone breaks or the bone around it is badly lost, that post may need removal. The plan is then revised for how the remaining posts and prosthesis will be used.

Seoul National University Hospital lists factors that can make an implant fail.

• Bacterial infection during treatment.
• Overload from excessive chewing force.
• Excess heat or trauma to the bone during surgery.
• Poor bone quality.
• The patient's bone response: age, genes, general health, smoking and healing ability.

It also names cases where removal is required. These include bone loss on X-ray reaching about a third of the root or down to its tip, and severe implant movement.

For inflammation, a 2025 guideline from the Korean Academy of Periodontology sets out the order. Dailydental reported that it lays out the treatment path step by step.

Non-surgical treatment means conservative care such as mechanical and chemical cleaning. If the tissue recovers at re-evaluation, regular maintenance resumes.

The guideline also sets criteria for returning to maintenance: probing depth under 5 mm, no bleeding or pus on probing, and no ongoing bone loss. Maintenance then continues every three to six months based on risk, with regular professional cleaning.

After removal, the guideline also describes placing a new implant. Depending on the bone defect, it is placed right away or after the bone is restored first.

So "redoing it" can mean many things. With a full-arch implant, it can range from replacing one screw to placing one post again.

How can you make a full-arch implant last in Busan?

The KDCA names three conditions for long use: thorough hygiene, avoiding excessive chewing force and regular checkups.

For hygiene, it says floss and interdental brushes are essential because implants leave wider gaps between teeth. A regular toothbrush alone cannot reach every area.

With a full-arch implant, many people miss the inner surfaces facing the tongue. Use a mirror and clean these carefully too.

The first year is when the bone around the implant firms up. Start by chewing soft foods during this time.

Manage force as well. Chew on both sides and avoid hard or tough foods where possible. If you grind or clench, discuss prevention with your dentist.

The 2021 case report also set a care plan. Considering the patient's dry-mouth risk, visits were every three months, focusing on hard-to-clean spots.

Here is the care routine from the sources, in order.

1. Keep visits close together soon after the prosthesis is fitted.
2. As a guide, visit every three months in the first year, then about every six months based on risk.
3. Continue checkups every three to six months for inflammation and bite.
4. Clean under, between and behind the prosthesis with floss and interdental brushes.
5. Call right away if a screw feels loose or anything wobbles.

A full-arch implant is not placed once and forgotten; it is cared for over time. At Reset Dental Clinic, checkups start by finding exactly which part is affected.

Frequently asked questions

How many years does a full-arch implant last?

There is no set number. The KDCA says implants do not last forever, and Asan Medical Center says results depend on health, hygiene, checkups and maintenance.

If something goes wrong, does everything have to be redone?

According to the sources, screws are retightened or replaced, prostheses are repaired or remade, and a broken implant is removed. An exam first shows which part is affected.

Do I need to replace it after eight years?

No. 7.99 years was the average use of prostheses judged to have failed, not a replacement date. Plaque was a linked factor, so care matters more than years.

Can I get full-arch implant checkups in English in Busan?

Yes. We offer 1:1 English interpretation from the first consultation through the end of treatment. The clinic is near Seomyeon Station Exit 2 (5-min walk), opposite Lotte Hotel Busan, and you can call 010-8555-2854 (+82-10-8555-2854 from abroad).

References

• KDCA National Health Information Portal, "Dental Implants" — implants do not last forever and need hygiene and regular checkups; implant parts and osseointegration; repair, remaking, screw retightening and removal; peri-implantitis can destroy bone without wobbling; checkups every 3–6 months
• Asan Medical Center, "Implant Surgery" — success rate of almost 95% or more, varying with health, hygiene, checkups and maintenance; poor care can lead to bone loss; loose screws should be retightened; visit promptly if anything is wrong
• Yoon JH, Park YB, Oh NS, "Analysis of the longevity and success rate of fixed, removable and implant prostheses treated in Korea," Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics 56(2), 2018 — patients at 13 university and general hospitals; 475 implant cases; failed implant prostheses used 7.99 years on average (median 7); linked factors were implant number, years of use and plaque index
• KDA newspaper Dailydental, "Half of implant failures due to poor maintenance" (September 23, 2019) — retrospective study of 26 implants in 17 patients at a university hospital in Jeju; diagnosis after 2.79 years on average; early and late failures; shared traits of late failures; short early visit intervals and regular X-rays
• KDA newspaper Dailydental, "Professor Woo Yi-hyung's lecture: easy solutions with implant overdentures" (December 13, 2010) — without passive fit, joint screws loosen or break; failure of one or two implants can make a fixed prosthesis fail as a whole
• Seoul National University Hospital, "Dental Implants" — poor cleaning can shorten lifespan; effects of smoking, drinking and chewing force; when removal is required; causes of implant failure
• Chae HS et al., "A retrospective study on survival rate, success rate and complications of posterior implant-supported fixed prostheses by material," Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics 57(4), 2019 — 364 prostheses in 245 patients; 3- and 5-year survival 97.5% and 91.0%, success 61.1% and 32.9%; main complications; regular checkups and repair are very important
• KDA newspaper Dailydental, "65% of implant patients experience peri-implant disease" (March 26, 2025) — Korean Academy of Periodontology: mucositis 43%, peri-implantitis 22%; risk factors of poor hygiene, smoking and uncontrolled diabetes; 89.4% skip aftercare when comfortable; maintenance intervals
• KDA newspaper Dailydental, "Implant screw loosening most common within six months" (September 1, 2015) — Wonkwang University thesis: 1,928 implants in 837 patients over 31.5 months; 7.2% loosening, half within six months; rates by prosthesis type and retention
• Shin HH et al., "Full-mouth rehabilitation of a completely edentulous patient with fixed implant prostheses," Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science 37(3), 2021 — more complications with cement retention in multi-crown full-arch restorations; screw retention allows removal; three-month recall considering dry-mouth risk
• KDA newspaper Dailydental, "New guideline for treating peri-implant disease" (October 29, 2025) — 2025 Korean Academy of Periodontology consensus: maintenance, removal criteria, non-surgical then surgical treatment, re-implantation, and criteria for returning to maintenance
• KDA newspaper Dailydental, "What is the survival rate of implants with sinus lift?" (February 1, 2017) — Seoul National University Dental Hospital, 51 implants in 26 patients by one surgeon; cumulative survival 92.2%, 88.2% and 85.4% at 1, 5 and 10 years; smokers at 7.52 times the risk