Dental Implants

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is an appliance that’s permanently affixed to the area where there’s a missing tooth. Depending on the condition of the patient’s dental health and the number of teeth missing dental implants may support several different prostheses such as crowns, bridges, facial prosthesis or dentures.

Dental implants replace your missing teeth. They serve both an aesthetic and practical purpose. In addition to restoring the look of your smile, dental implants also improve diminished dental functions and prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of place and becoming misaligned. Dental implants are comprised of three components: the implant or post (which looks like a screw), an abutment (connector) and the crown (which is made to look like a natural tooth).

The implant is the support structure that holds the entire prosthesis in place. The abutment connects the implant to the crown and the crown is the exterior façade of the structure (the part you see in the mouth).

Why Dental Implants Are a Must for Missing Teeth

Gaps in your teeth can cause a series of potentially serious dental health issues if left untreated. Aside from the possibility of shifting teeth, tooth gaps can also leave you susceptible to oral infections, which can spread throughout the rest of your body. Developing gum infections (periodontal disease) can lead to severe gum disease, but has also been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and even increasing the risk of kidney disease.

Dental Implants Procedure

Dental implants treatment is fairly straightforward, but the time to complete is longer than other treatments.

First, you must have the bone assessed to be sure you can have an implant. Then your dentist will make an incision in the affected area where the implant will be placed into the jaw bone. After the implant is positioned correctly and has had time to heal and integrate into the jawbone, the abutment is attached and then the crown is placed on top.