Purpose
Teeth implants or, more commonly, dental implants are typically used for the purpose of replacing a missing tooth or missing teeth. Tooth loss can occur for a variety of reasons including injury or accident. Gum disease, such as periodontitis, can lead to tooth loss. Decay from age or poor oral hygiene can also play a role in tooth loss. The replacement of a missing tooth can be simply cosmetic in nature, with appearance as the primary concern. There are also functional reasons for receiving an implant. Tooth loss and dentures can lead to the loss of bone at the site of the lost tooth or teeth. Bridges can affect the health of the surrounding teeth to which they are attached. In addition, dentures and bridges often need to be replaced. Dental implants, when cared for correctly, can be a long-term or even permanent solution to tooth loss and can prevent bone loss.
The Implant
The implant itself is typically a screw that is made of titanium or a titanium alloy. The use of these titanium screws allows for a process called osseointegration to take place. Osseointegration is the process of the bone bonding to surface of the titanium screw. This bonding helps to hold the implanted screw into place. It also helps to keep the bone active in that area of the jaw and decreases the likelihood of bone loss. The implant is typically completed with a crown to cover the metal screw. Crowns come in a variety of materials. They can be formed from metals, such as gold or palladium. They are also made out of resin, porcelain and ceramic. Porcelain and ceramic are the materials that most closely mimic the natural color of teeth.
The Procedure
The dental implant procedure is a multi-step process that occurs over the course of several months. As with most surgeries, X-rays are standard prior to the procedure. It is possible to have insufficient bone height in the jaw, which can require that the bone be built up to allow for the implant. The actual titanium screw implantation is usually performed by a periodontist. At the site of the tooth loss, a hole will be drilled into the bone and then widened. This hole will be where the implant is then, literally, screwed into place. This procedure requires some time after the surgery for the implant site to heal and osseointegration to occur. It is standard for a protective cover to be attached to the screw during this healing process. Once the healing process is over, a dentist typically takes over and will handle placing the prosthetic crown. This process typically involves a temporary crown being left in place for a time to accommodate gum growth and then being replaced by a permanent crown.
Tags: tooth loss, bone loss, healing process, hole will, into place