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When you’re missing a tooth, Dr. Egger believes far and away the best solution to replace it is with a dental implant. Once in place, implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth. They don’t even require any care other than what you do for your natural teeth.

Why should I replace a missing tooth with an implant?

• They keep the adjacent teeth from sliding over into the gap.
• They transfer bite force energy down into the jawbone, exactly as a natural tooth does.
• They function just like natural teeth.
• They don’t require any special care or attention.
• Unlike bridges, which need to be anchored by crowns on the teeth abutting the gap, implants do not impinge on the adjacent teeth.
• They are almost as strong as your natural teeth.
• The success rate of implants approaches 95%.
• They can last for decades.

What is the implant procedure?

There are four steps Dr. Egger uses to place a dental implant:

1.Implant placement — First, the patient is anesthetized. Then the jawbone is exposed and the titanium implant is screwed down into the socket that held the former tooth root. If necessary, a small hole may be drilled to facilitate the process.
2.Osseointegration — Now the jawbone needs time to grow around and accept the implant. This process is what makes an implant behave just like a natural tooth; it becomes part of the jaw. Osseointegration takes from three to six months.
3.Placing the post — Once osseointegration is complete, the patient returns to our office and we attach a post, clinically termed an abutment, to the implant. This time we allow the gums to heal around the post for approximately six weeks.
4.Attaching the crown — When the gums have fully healed, we cement the crown (false tooth) to the abutment and the process is complete.

How long do implants last?

The titanium implant will most likely last the remainder of the patient’s life. The crown that is attached to the implant usually has a 15-year lifespan, but good hygiene can extend that. Also, even if the crown needs replacing the implant that is part of the jawbone is still in place, so the process is very easy.

If you’re missing a tooth, call Dr. Egger at 989-773-3560 and let’s talk about a dental implant.