The Cost And Effectiveness Of The Endosteal Implant Procedure

The endosteal implant procedure is designed to permanently replace a lost or missing tooth. The implant is designed to function in a manner similar to a natural tooth. It has an appearance that resembles a tooth that sits on top of a screw. The endosteal implant is one of the most commonly used methods of dealing with tooth loss due to its overall effectiveness and success rate.

How Effective is the Endosteal Implant Procedure?

The endosteal implant procedure is known to be highly effective due to both its similarity to a natural tooth, and its simplicity of design. The success rate of an implant after five years is 95% or greater. The implant can survive for several decades, even an entire lifetime.

The cost of the implant can vary greatly. Typically, the price of having an implant installed will vary between $1500 and $10000 per tooth. This is due to the operating costs of the dentist, the materials used, and any extra services needed. Extra services may include procedures such as tooth extraction or jawbone augmentation to reinforce the jawbone.

The first officially implanted endosteal implant performed was on the patient Gosta Larsson. The implant lasted for forty years, and remained intact until after his death forty years later. The longevity of this procedure can be attributed to several factors. One of the greatest factors determining how long implants will last is a process known as osseointegration. This process causes the implant to fuse with the jawbone. It becomes a permanent placement within the mouth.

How is the Endosteal Implant Performed?

The endosteal implant is performed in stages, though the number of stages can vary between dental practitioners. The most common process is a three-stage series of operations. This operational series is a step-by-step implant process that places one of three implant components during each step. The components are known as the base, abutment and crown.

• The Base - The first step in the endosteal implant process will include the installment of the base. The base is a screw-shaped object that will be inserted into the jawbone in order to act as an anchor for the prosthetic tooth. This component will fuse with the bone over the course of several months. After the base has completely fused to the jawbone, the next component can be installed.
• The Abutment - This component is a rod or cone-shaped object that will be inserted into the base. It serves the purpose of connecting the base and the crown. After this component is installed, the gums will need to heal for a few weeks before the next stage can begin.
• The Crown - The crown is a component that is designed to both look and act like the visible portion of a tooth. This component can be made from several different materials. A few common materials include dental acrylic, zirconium, porcelain, and gold. 

The endosteal implant process can take several months to complete. However, the permanent nature of the newly implanted prosthetic allows it to continue to function for several decades. High-grade crown materials such as zirconium and porcelain-fused-to-metal should be used if possible. These crowns will last longer than dental acrylic, which is a composite resin, and look realistic compared to gold. For more information, talk to a dentist like Bedich Joseph D DDS FAGD.