What
are Dental Implants?
A natural tooth consists
of a crown (the part you see above the gum), and the root
(the part hidden under the gum, within the jawbone). It is
the root that actually holds the natural tooth in place.
When a person is missing
a tooth, the dentist must decide how to re-create the crown
portion, and he must choose the best method to hold it in
place. Dental implants were created for this purpose.
Dental implants are metallic
cylinders that are placed into the jawbone where original teeth
once existed. These root-like cylinders are used to secure a
replacement tooth in place in a spot where a tooth is missing.
Dental implants can also be used to secure loose teeth in place
by being installed alongside the loose teeth and anchoring to
them with splinted crowns. This will allow the loose teeth to
function better and last longer in the mouth.
Dental implants
are made of various biomaterials. Most commonly, a surgical
metal called titanium is used, because it is the most compatible
with human biology. They are surgically placed in the jawbone,
right in the dentist’s office, using a local anesthetic. Approved
and tested implant systems are very successful. In fact, some
have lasted more than 20 years with a better than 90% success
rate. Patients who have good oral hygiene and take care of their
new teeth can enjoy implants that last a lifetime.
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