A dental implant is a replacement for the missing tooth’s root structure. It fuses with your jawbone tissues and becomes an integrated component of your dental anatomy, offering a firm base for the replacement tooth. Whether you’re missing one, several, or all of your teeth, you can get dental implants to replace them effectively. Since dental implants feel, function, and look like natural teeth, they’re widely considered the best solution for teeth replacement.
The components of a dental implant:
- Implant: The implant is a titanium screw that’s drilled into the jawbone underneath the location of the missing tooth. It replaces the missing tooth’s root structure.
- Abutment: The abutment is a permanent connective device attached to the implant. It connects the implant to the prosthetic components (the replacement teeth).
- Prosthesis: The prosthetic component refers to the dental crown, bridge, or denture used to replace the missing teeth. These make up the visible components of your teeth.
How do dental implants work?
As mentioned previously, a dental implant is a titanium screw drilled into the jawbone underneath the socket of the missing tooth. Once the implant is placed, new bone tissues grow around the implant’s surface via a process known as osseointegration. Over time, the implant becomes a firmly rooted component of your dental anatomy, indistinguishable from natural roots. At this point, an abutment is attached to the implant.
The abutment sits above the gum line, and it serves as a connective component, linking the implant to the prosthetic tooth. Depending on the number of missing teeth, the dentist may attach a dental crown, dental bridge, or a denture to the implant. Implant-supported zirconia crowns, bridges, and dentures are completely stable — they look, function, and feel like natural teeth, making them indistinguishable from your real teeth.
Replace one, multiple, or all teeth at once
Single-Tooth Implants
If you’ve lost one tooth because of periodontal disease, dental decay, or dental injuries, you can opt for single-tooth implants. In this case, the dentist will attach one implant underneath the socket of the missing tooth and attach a dental crown to the implant. The implant-supported crown will be indistinguishable from natural teeth.
Multiple Implants
If you’re missing multiple teeth, either in a series or from different parts of your mouth, you may opt for multiple implants. In this case, the dentist will attach a strategic number of implants underneath the empty sockets and use them to support partial dentures or dental bridges, depending on your specific needs.
Full-Mouth Implants
If you need to replace a complete arch of missing, loose, or damaged teeth, you may need full-mouth implants. In this case, the dentist will place only four implants in strategically chosen locations on your upper or lower arch. The implants will support a complete denture, thus replacing all of your teeth using as few as four implants.
Prevent bone loss in the jaws with dental implants
Dental implants certainly replace your natural teeth and restore complete functionality, allowing you to eat whatever you want. However, dental implants can also prevent the loss of jawbone tissues. When you lose a tooth, the jawbone tissues in the region start eroding because they don’t have a stimulus for growth anymore, leading to a “sunken” facial appearance. Dental implants facilitate jawbone regeneration and prevent jawbone disintegration, thereby helping you maintain a youthful facial appearance.
Initiate your dental implant journey today
OraBell Dental Implant Centers is a state-of-the-art dental clinic dedicated to cutting-edge dental implant techniques. Dr. Snapir uses advanced diagnostics and digital technologies to plan your dental implant treatment, ensuring the entire procedure is safe, precise, effective, and convenient. He also selects the highest quality of zirconia restorations to ensure the final results are indistinguishable from natural teeth. Please schedule a consultation to explore your dental implant options in San Fernando Valley.
