What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a titanium post or screw drilled into the jawbone underneath the empty socket of the missing tooth. Most people believe dental implants replace the missing teeth, but they actually replace the root structures of the missing teeth. Once the implant is drilled into the jawbone, your natural bone tissues gradually grow around the implant via the osseointegration process, thereby rooting it in place. The osseointegration process turns the dental implant into an integrated component of your facial anatomy.
Once the dental implant is firmly rooted, the dentist attaches an abutment, a small connective component, to the implant. After placing the abutment, the dental implant specialist can attach the dental crown or bridge. If you’re missing one tooth, the dentist will attach a crown to the implant. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped and tooth-colored cap that’s shade-matched to your existing teeth. A dental bridge is a series of fake teeth attached to the implants, ideal for the restoration of multiple missing teeth.