Dental implants are artificial replacements for natural teeth. They serve as an achor for artificial teeth so that they look close to real teeth. They can not only look like real teeth but feels like it too. They are strong enough to withstand grinding and chewing. Patients who have dental implants don’t have to worry about their tooth slipping. Dental implants can do a lot to boost a person’s confidence.
Dental implants should duplicate the patient’s tooth structure. Tooth implants are made of titanium and is inserted into the jawbone. This type of metal fuses well with the human bone. It is the same metal used in knee and hip replacements.
Implants are shaped like a cylinder and they look like a screw. They have small holes on the surface. These holes allow bone tissues to grow into them so that the bone and metal fuse together. This makes a strong anchor for the implant.
An abutment is placed on top of the titanium implant. The abutment is a piece of metal that connects the artificial crown and the implant.
The artificial crown is the part that can be seen. It replaces the missing tooth. An artificial crown that is used to replace a complete set of teeth can either be removable or fixed. Removable crowns are easy to clean. But fixed crowns offer security.
Teeth implant procedure undergoes three important steps:
- Insertion of metal implant/s through surgery
- After the healing period (usually after six months), the abutment is surgically added.
- The last step is when the artificial crown is placed on top of the implant.
Once the artificial crown is held in place and the fit is good, you will feel like your missing tooth/teeth is restored. You will be able to chew and grind food normally. Plus you will feel good about yourself again.
