Dental Implants: How They Work And Their Procedure

Dental implanting is a valuable therapy for the replacement of your own teeth. They are natural looking and more comfortable to wear than dentures. Implants are useful for anchoring prosthetic or artificial teeth into your jawbone. Their ability to stabilize surrounding teeth is nearly equal to that of your natural teeth. Implants provide a comfortable and secure fit, an appearance that is quite natural, and an influx of self-confidence for people of any age.

What Dental Implants Consist Of

Dental implants duplicate the structure of natural teeth. They are made of titanium and are inserted into your jawbone. Titanium offers various benefits for patients.

  • It works well in dental applications.
  • It does not usually cause reactions in patients.
  • It also works well in hip and knee replacements.

What Is the Shape and Purpose of Dental Implants?

Implants are cylindrical and resemble screws. Their unique design includes small holes on their outside surface. There is a good reason for this. As tooth implants stimulate bone growth like natural tooth roots, bone tissue will grow into those small holes. This helps in securing the dental implant.

An abutment rests atop the metal implant to connect a prosthesis to the implant. The prosthesis replaces the missing or removed tooth. It can be fitted like a natural-looking bridge or crown if you have multiple missing teeth.

Prostheses are used in the replacement of complete sets of teeth and may be removable or fixed. Removable prostheses may be taken out in order to clean them effectively. A fixed prosthesis offers better chewing reliability but if they need to be removed for any reason, this must be done by your dentist.  

Procedure

Since an implant will duplicate the structure of the tooth that is being replaced, each part has a contributory role in providing you with an implant that functions largely as natural teeth do. Whether your dentist is replacing one tooth or a series of teeth, the repair process is largely the same.

There are three steps involved in dental implant insertion. These are:

  1. Surgical insertion of metal implants
  2. Insertion of the abutment three to six months later
  3. Custom-manufacture of the prosthesis and attachment to the abutment

As a rule, the implants will need several adjustments before they are attached to abutments. Once your dental implants fit comfortably, the future of your dental health is secure. You will enjoy comfortable chewing, self-confidence, and a new smile with which you can greet the world. Contact your local dentist to find out if dental implants can give you back your smile. 


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