Implants are best known as a modern form of false teeth. Ancient dental implants, however, have been discovered by archaeologists studying Mayan and Egyptian remains. There is a significant difference, however: those early implants were made of ivory and bone, but today’s tooth implants are fashioned from titanium.
Implant Structure
An implant is made of three basic parts:
- The implant anchor – a titanium screw embedded in the jawbone. It becomes integrated as bone grows around and even into the titanium.
- The abutment – a small nub attached to the titanium screw and designed to hold…
- The crown, which is attached to the abutment.
Implant Procedure
Some dentists send their patients out to an oral surgeon to have the implant anchor (and sometimes the abutment) surgically installed. At Granville Dental, we bring our surgical specialist in. All parts of the implant procedure are performed under our roof.
- X-rays and impressions are taken of the jaw and teeth to determine the structure of bone, gum tissue, as well as the space that is available for implants.
- Any teeth that must be removed in preparation for the tooth implants are extracted.
- When teeth have been missing for a long time, bone grafting may need to be done to provide support for the implants. In many cases, soft-tissue grafting will be done to restore natural contours to the gums.
- All preparation work is allowed to heal.
- The titanium anchors (screws) are surgically inserted into the jawbone. In some cases, abutments are attached right away, followed by temporary artificial teeth. In other cases, the gums are stitched closed over the screws.
- A period of some months will pass, during which bone tissue will grow into the titanium screws, firmly anchoring them.
- If not installed previously, the abutments are now placed. This is followed by an additional period of healing.
- During the waiting time, implant crowns will have been fabricated by the Cerec lab. The final step is to bond the crowns to the implant abutments.
Types of Implants
Some specialized implants are:
- Mini implants: Smaller implants may be sufficient, in some cases. These require less time and anesthetic.
- Implant dentures: Dentures may be anchored by crowns affixed to implant abutments.
Free Consultation at Granville Dental
If you have considered implants and wondered whether you are a good candidate for this modern type of artificial teeth, call (740) 587-4891 for a free consultation or fill out our online contact form.