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If you’re missing any number of teeth, there’s a good chance that you’re thinking of having dental implants placed in order to enjoy a complete smile again. However, when researching this treatment option, you may have come across a few unfamiliar terms. It’s important to have a firm grasp on the basics before you move forward with any dental procedure, so here’s a look at 4 terms you should know before committing to dental implants.
1. Endosteal Implants
There’s more than one kind of dental implant, but the most common type is endosteal implants. These are dental implants that are designed to be surgically inserted into the jawbone so that they can mimic the functions of your natural tooth roots. An endosteal implant is often made to resemble a screw, and it’s normally made out of titanium, which is known for being both durable and highly biocompatible.
2. Osseointegration
In order to provide your replacement teeth with the stability and chewing power they need, your dental implants need to form a strong bond with your jawbone. Doing so requires a natural process known as osseointegration. Simply put, the bone in the jaw grows around the implant post, eventually resulting in a structural connection. This is a vital part of the dental implant process; if osseointegration doesn’t take place as intended, your dental implants will fail.
3. Abutment
An abutment is one of the main components of a dental implant. Simply put, it is the connector piece that is responsible for keeping the final prosthesis anchored to the implant post. The abutment is placed once the post has finished fusing with the jawbone.
4. Restoration
Restoring a dental implant means placing the prosthesis that will act as your replacement tooth or teeth. Note that the type of prosthesis used for restoration can vary depending on your situation:
- If you are getting a single dental implant to replace one tooth, you can expect to receive a crown that has been customized to blend in with the rest of your smile.
- To replace multiple teeth in a row, you can often get a dental bridge attached to a pair of dental implants.
- An entire arch of teeth can be replaced with dentures and about four to eight implant posts.
Hopefully, learning the terms above will help you gain a better understanding of what to expect during the dental implant process. Remember, you can always talk to your dentist if you have any questions.
About the Author
Dr. Ashraf Seif has more than two decades of dental experience. He is a graduate of the Loma Linda School of Dentistry, and he has completed dental implant training at the Pikos Institute. His practice, Baytown Gentle Dental, offers patients the convenience of having dental implants placed and restored in-house. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Seif, visit his website or call (281) 837-9122.