Implants

Implants are artificial tooth roots that are usually made of titanium. Implants made of ceramic are also now available. Both materials are hypoallergenic, biocompatible and can usually be straightforwardly integrated into the periodontium. As dentists, we refer to this fusing with the bone as osseointegration. The implants are placed into the jawbone like tiny screws and fitted with special abutments. These abutments later support the crowns or bridges, which we manufacture from high-quality ceramic in our dental laboratory. Using dentures on implants, we can replace individual teeth, close smaller and larger gaps or give toothless patients the experience of a complete row of teeth again.

See how an All-on-4® implantation might work!

Whenever you lose a tooth it should be replaced as soon as possible, because each individual tooth has an important role to play in the complex system of teeth, jaw joints and chewing muscles. Gapless teeth have a key impact on the effect we have on others, but teeth have more than just an aesthetic purpose.
Healthy straight teeth ensure the correct bite, and if some of them are out of alignment our body reacts with tension and pain that can extend far beyond the head area. In the long term, missing teeth lead to a natural deterioration of the jawbone, making further loss of teeth possible. Healthy complete sets of teeth are important for your oral health as well as for your whole body!

As you can see, missing teeth should always be replaced completely. And not just the visible part, the dental crown, which is usually replaced quickly for aesthetic reasons, especially in the anterior region. The implant, the artificial tooth root, is the basis for healthy, functional and aesthetically pleasing dentures.

Implant treatment is in essence available to any patient. There are however certain important conditions. Growth of bones should be completed and the height and width of the jawbone should be sufficient. If this is not the case, we can use a range of procedures to augment jawbone and thus create the conditions for successful implantation. Chronic diseases such as diabetes can make it more difficult to create the optimum conditions for implant placement. It is still possible to provide implants in Egerkingen however – we coordinate closely with any specialist doctors and general practitioners.

If the conditions are right with the patient, there is nothing standing in the way of safe, gentle implantation. There are various important factors for the long-term success of an implant. In particular, having an experienced and competent dental surgeon with a well-coordinated team plays a major role.

Dr Roberto Sleiter, oral surgeon and senior physician in the Department of Oral Surgery at the University of Bern since 2009, places several hundred implants every year. But you cannot do this without modern equipment. We rely on innovative digital X-ray technology and precise planning of each individual implant procedure using state-of-the-art computer software.

X-Guide makes your implant treatment safer, gentler and faster. Find out more about innovative real-time 3D implant procedures here: X-Guide navigation tool

Implants can also become diseased, and care and hygiene must not be neglected just because we are dealing with artificial dentures. Here too you are in the best of hands in Egerkingen. Our experienced dental hygiene team will work with you to look after the health of your implants and dentures. As for healthy teeth, the greatest danger to implants comes from bacteria in the oral cavity. Peri-implantitis is a chronic inflammation that affects the tissue around the implant and is the main reason for the loss of an implant. As with periodontitis treatment, the aim here is to combat bacterial plaque or biofilm. Alongside optimal oral hygiene at home, we offer a comprehensive programme of checking and cleaning implants, gums, the periodontium and dentures in our preventive care department.

Find out more about preventive care here!

Of course, we always have to check our patients’ suitability for implant treatment carefully in advance. If implantation is not an option, we can always offer patients a suitable alternative. Nevertheless, implants have certain key advantages compared with conventional solutions:

• Healthy teeth do not need to be ground down to serve as abutments for bridges.
• The teeth can be replaced with similar functional and aesthetic properties to the originals.
• Even toothless jaws can also be fitted with fixed rows of teeth.
• With dentures on implants, we offer a safe and durable alternative to removable full dentures.