Dental Implants Explained
Dental implants are surgical components that connect with the jaw or skull bone and are crafted from commercially pure titanium or zirconia. Dental implants are used to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, denture, or bridge.
Having a dental implant placed is fairly straightforward. The oral surgeon uses a CT scan to determine the best placement of the implant and a pilot hole is drilled into the bone. An implant post is then inserted into hole. The reason titanium and zirconia are used in implant procedures is due to their biocompatibility with bone. Over time, the implant fuses with with the bone in a process known as osseointegration.
Depending on the type of implant being placed, the oral surgeon may place a healing abutment to allow the soft tissue to heal, or an immediate loading temporary crown or bridge may be placed. Once the tissues have healed around the implant it should function just like a natural tooth.
