How does a Dental Implant Work?

You may have heard that a dental implant can be a permanent solution when you have lost a tooth. For many people, it is an ideal way to deal with a lost tooth because it requires no special maintenance, can not be removed, and lasts a lifetime. Here is a short guide to answer some of the most frequent questions we hear at Brandon Dental Clinic, about dental implants.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants have 2 main parts. There is a metal post anchored into your jaw bone and the prosthetic tooth made of porcelain that is attached to it.

The Post and How it Anchors

The post part of dental implants is made of resilient and extremely strong metal. Usually it is titanium or a titanium alloy. The titanium post is designed much like a screw. There are multiple threads that help to anchor the metal post in the jaw bone. Your body then starts a process called “osseointegration”. That is how your dental implants will fuse with your jaw bone over the next few months. This makes dental implants a solution for a lost tooth that is both extremely strong and long-lasting.

The Porcelain Prosthetic

Once the bone has done some healing, and osseointegration has started, the porcelain like prosthetic tooth will be attached. The prosthetic is attached to the post to anchor it in place, permanently. This type of tooth, the same as dental crowns, is made from a strong material, much like porcelain. The artificial tooth is carefully matched to your other teeth so it is generally impossible to distinguish it from your own natural teeth. Once your missing teeth are replaced with dental implants, your biting and chewing go back to normal.

The Dental Implant Placement Procedure

The procedure for dental implant placements is quite straightforward and simple.

• Measurements – Once it has been determined that you are a dental implant candidate, your dental implant specialist takes careful measurements of both your mouth and jaw. These accurate measurements help determine the exact optimal placement location for every dental implant.
• The Post Install – The dental implant post is then installed into your bone, in a surgery performed right in the office.
• The Prosthetic Install – After a few weeks, the tissues will have healed enough that the post will have started to fuse with your bone. That is when the crowns are added to make your dental implant look and work like a natural tooth.

A dental implant is a straightforward, one-time process to have a permanent solution when you have lost a tooth.

You can learn more about dental implant procedures by contacting our office directly. Call us at the number above or send us an email. We will happily answer any of your questions. Consider a FREE consultation with a dental implant specialist to have your situation assessed by an expert.