What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants have changed the way that people think about replacing missing teeth. Before their invention, patients had to rely on appliances like dentures and bridges to fill in the gaps in their smile. Now, with dental implants, there’s another option that many prefer due to the higher level of convenience and comfort. Here’s what you need to know about dental implants.

The Structure of a Dental Implant

Unlike with dentures or bridges that just rest on top of your teeth, dental implants are designed to mimic the form of a natural tooth. This means that they have a part that functions as the tooth root, which dentures and bridges don’t have. You can think of a dental implant in three sections. There’s the post, which looks like a little screw and is the artificial root. There’s the abutment, which serves as a connector piece. And then there’s the crown, which is the part that tops everything off and looks like a real tooth.

The Process of Getting a Dental Implant

Getting a dental implant is also different than other tooth replacement options because it requires oral surgery. This is necessary so that the implant post can be placed into the jawbone, just like your other teeth’s roots are. Being secured in place like that means that it should feel just like all your other teeth do and you won’t have to fuss with taking your implant in and out.

When you get a dental implant, it requires a couple of visits to complete the procedure. In the first appointment, we’ll place the post. Then we let that area heal and allow the post to fuse with the bone in a process called osseointegration. Once that’s done and it has formed a stable foundation, we’ll move onto the second phase where we place the dental crown and complete the full appearance.

Scenic Bluffs Dental

We’re proud to be able to offer our community dental implants. To get started call or email our practice to set-up an in-person consultation. We look forward to seeing you soon!