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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
James Willis, DDS
What Exactly Is a Dental Implant?
Burke Dental Center

What Exactly Is a Dental Implant?

You and your dentist can work together to keep your natural teeth as healthy, functional, pain-free, and beautiful as possible. However, sometimes we lose teeth due to infection, decay, or trauma. If you are missing a tooth, for whatever reason, your dentist may recommend a dental implant to

replace it.

It's important that when your dentist finds a problem with one of your teeth you understand the diagnosis and recommended course of treatment. I have found that a well-informed patient who understands the advantages and disadvantages of each potential treatment plan has a much higher appreciation for the recommended treatment and is therefore better able to decide on a treatment plan compared to a patient who is given no such explanation.

In order to understand what a dental implant is, you must first have a basic understanding of the anatomy of a tooth. In general, the portion of a tooth which is above the gums is called the crown; the portion below the gums is called the root.

When you are missing a tooth or when a tooth is non-restorable, your dentist may recommend an implant. The term “implant” refers to the portion which is placed in your bone and which acts as a replacement root; the portion above your gums is an implant-supported crown.

The procedure begins with your dentist inserting the implant into your bone. Dental implants are usually made of titanium, which is extremely biocompatible. In fact, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the bone fully integrates with the implant. This is a natural process and normally requires approximately three to four months. During this time, there will be a healing abutment covering the implant. It is used to keep debris out of the implant and to ensure proper approximation of gum tissue and is not meant to be used for chewing.

After full integration is achieved between your bone and the implant, your dentist can remove the healing abutment and take an impression of the implant area to build a model of your teeth. The model will be used to fabricate your crown in a dental laboratory. This process is highly customized and may take a few weeks. Your dentist will place the healing abutment back in place for the interim. Once the crown is fabricated, your dentist will remove the healing abutment and place the final implant-supported crown in place permanently.

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