Dental Implants
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are artificial tooth posts that are placed into the jawbone in place of a defective tooth root to restore and improve both function and appearance. A dental implant provides an opportunity to replace an extracted tooth with a metal post so that the newly installed post can function as an anchor for the crown or denture. Through the use of implants, our patients can not only rehabilitate their dental health but also renovate their smile.
Main Components of an Implant
Dental implants are made up of three main parts: the implant, abutment, and crown. The implant, also known as a post or stud, is the part that functions as the socket or plug for the abutment. The post serves as the root for the crown. Dental implants are made from durable and biocompatible materials, such as titanium, to ensure longevity and stability. The abutment is the connective piece between the implant and the crown. The reason why the crown is not directly installed into the implant is because the abutment provides necessary support, preventing the crown from loosening or receiving damage from biting pressure.
The crown is the cap that sits on top of the implant and abutment. It is shaped and colored just like a natural tooth to give our patients a healthy and confident smile. Dental crowns are built to be stronger and more durable than natural teeth. In addition, the crown is replaceable in case it is damaged.
Dental Implant Procedure
The dental implant procedure consists of two main steps. The first step involves the installation of the implants and bone graft, if needed, to establish the necessary infrastructure for the second step of the procedure. When the implants have healed and the bone graft has solidified during the healing period, other components are added, such as the abutment and crown.
The dental implant procedure starts with a consultation in the clinic. During the consultation, an x-ray of both the upper and lower jaws is taken to conduct a comprehensive analysis by a prosthodontist (a dentist specializing in implant placement). Then a physical, in-person examination is done to provide our patients with a detailed evaluation of their dental status. During the initial stage of the dental implant procedure, a very small incision on the gums is needed in order to access the tooth socket where the missing tooth was located. Our dentists then make a small incision and proceed with drilling into the bone to place the implant itself. After implantation is complete, the incision on the gums is then stitched and allowed to heal. After three-to-six months have passed, our patients can move on to the second part of the implant procedure. To do so, a new incision is required to uncover the implant. Then, the stud is covered with a healing cap screwed in place. The name of the healing cap is derived from its purpose, which is to promote restoration and recuperation of the encompassing gum tissue. The healing cap is removed once a few weeks have passed. To serve as a supportive element for the crown, the abutment is then installed. To ensure that the crown remains securely in place, a tight fit is necessary, provided by the abutment.
Bone Grafting
If doctors detect that there is an insufficient amount of bone in the jawbones, they accordingly prescribe the use of bone graft to reconstitute the necessary bone structure for implants to be installed. Simply put, bone graft allows the strengthening and augmentation of bones when there is not enough bone to keep an implant securely in place. Depending on the status of the jawbones and how much bone graft is needed, the healing period can take between three and six months. After the healing period is over, the rest of the components are added.