Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots. They can be
used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, support
a denture or restore an entire mouth.
Implants come in different shapes and
textures
Implants are made of titanium. Titanium unlike other metals is not rejected
by the body. Titanium is very strong and is biologically inert. To be
a candidate for a dental implant two criteria must be met. Your gum tissue
should be healthy overall and there must be enough bone present to support
the implant.
Following the extraction of a tooth the supporting bone begins to shrink
both in height and width. Even if the bone shrinkage has been excessive
an implant may still be an option. Depending on the situation, a periodontist
may be able to grow back the lost bone using regenerative procedures so
that an implant can be placed.
Implants can be used to support a bridge, a removable denture or a fixed
denture.
Your periodontist and dentist will discuss the available options and
benefits of each.
Example of a missing single front tooth. The patient did not want
to use the adjacent teeth to hold a bridge, or to have a removable
denture. He chose to have a single implant to support a crown.
Radiograph showing the placed implant and the crown over it.
Appearance of the crown in the mouth.
Example of a missing single back tooth. The patient did not want
to use the adjacent teeth to hold a bridge, or to have a removable
denture. He chose to have one implant to support a crown.
Radiograph showing the placed implant and the crown over it.
Appearance of the crown in the mouth.
If there are several missing teeth a number of options usually exist
for restoring the area.
Example of several missing side teeth. The patient did not want
to use the adjacent teeth to hold a bridge, or to have a removable
denture. He chose to have two implants to support a bridge.
Radiograph showing the placed implants and the bridge over them.
