Dental implants offer a teeth replacement solution to patients seeking exceptional stability. This is certainly a wonderful benefit. However, if you have just begun looking into options for restoring your smile, you may find that the world of dental prosthetics a bit overwhelming. When it comes to implants, the terminology and different parts may add to that sense of confusion. Rather than letting a few new words and ideas deter you from learning more, we encourage you to first familiarize yourself with the main terms. Then, you can easily move forward in determining which tooth replacement solution is best for you. Look over the following:
What Is A Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium post that stands in for missing tooth roots. Since you lost your tooth, you lost an entire unit, including the roots (the part that rests beneath your gumline) and the upper part of your tooth (the portion of your tooth that sits above your gumline). We will place an implant into your jawbone through a surgical procedure, thereby fully restoring your roots. The implant post will later support a replacement for your tooth’s upper portion.
What Is Osseointegration?
You will recover for several months after the placement of your dental implant. First, your gum tissue needs time to heal. In addition, the dental implant is made of titanium, a metal that will bond with the tissue of your jawbone. We need this fusion – a process called osseointegration – to occur, so your implant is stable and secure enough to support a prosthetic.
What Is An Abutment?
An abutment connects your dental implant post to the prosthetic replacing the part of your tooth that is visible. This accessory fits on top of your implant. We will initially place a “healing” abutment during recovery. Then, we will place the final abutment, which allows us to restore your implant.
What Is A Restoration?
The restoration is what we use to finish or to top (also referred to as “to restore”) your implant – it is the artificial tooth or teeth replacing the visible part of your missing tooth or teeth. This may include a dental crown for a single tooth, a bridge for several teeth, or a full denture for a full arch of missing teeth.
ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA ORAL SURGEONS:
Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).
