When your dentist suggests that you get dental implants, you’re going to seriously consider it. dentist in westminster But what specifically is a dental implant? What do they do and what do they look like?
A variety of different substances can be used to make up a dental implant. The exact selection will depend on the patients preference, and implant needs.
What Does a Implant Look Like?
Regardless of the type of dental implant you choose, most are constructed similarly. For example, the implant is broken down into three parts. The base is a screw.. It’s often constructed of a durable metal called titanium. The base is the portion of the implant that is screwed into the jaw bone of the patient. The abutment is the upper portion of the base, or screw. This abutment takes up space in the gum and rises slightly above it. The abutment serves as the base for a crown, the third part of an implant. A crown is a manufacturer’s cap type device that looks exactly like a tooth.
Implant Procedures
Implants take a two-step process. Step 1 is where the dentist surgically implants the base of the implant by screwing it into the jawbone of the patient. The implant remains just below the gum line. The area is allowed to heal for a month or more. At this point, the implants are not visible, but are situated just below the gum line.Step 2 occurs after the healing is complete. A crown is then placed over the abutment.
A single-stage dental implant is often performed when only one or two teeth are being replaced, especially those toward the back of the mouth. This procedure involves the implantation of a single dental implant in the jaw, the same as the two-stage procedure. However, in this procedure, the implant head or abutment is situated above the gum line. The same time to heal is required as before. The only difference between the two is that in the single-stage process, the abutment is visible above the gum line. At the end of his time, the crown is attached to the abutment without the need for minor surgery to expose the abutment as is required during the two-stage system.