What are the advantages of a dental implant?
Dental implants eliminate the need to wear a removable denture. Unlike a denture a dental implant is surgically fixed to the upper or lower jaw bone. Your dentist will then place a dental crown over the implant.
The teeth attached to a dental implant are natural looking and improve your smile while providing better oral health and comfort.
What are the different types of dental implants?
There are different types of dental implants depending on the needs of an individual.
Single Dental Implant
A single dental implant is an artificial device which looks like a small screw. This device is fixed in the place of the missing tooth. These are usually made of Titanium and are surgically fixed into your jawbone. Your dentist will then use this screw to attach an artificial tooth. Once completed your new artificial tooth looks like a part of your natural teeth.
All-On-4 Dental Implant
The 'All-On-4' dental implant is used as an alternative to a full set removable denture for the upper and lower jaw. If you're using a full denture then the All-On-4 implant is the perfect replacement. The All-On-4 implant includes fixing 4 dental implants to the jaw. A full set of 12 teeth are then fixed to these 4 implants.
The Dental Implant Process
Your dentist will first check your dental health and ensure you're eligible for an implant. You will need to have proper bone density so the implant can be fixed in place. The health of your gums is also important. In case your jaw bones do not have the right density, your dentist may suggest a bone graft.
Once your jaw bone is prepped and ready, a Titanium screw is fixed. After the implant is fixed in place the jaw bone will grow and fuse with the surface of the implant, securing it in place. This implant will be used to fix the new artificial teeth.
The next step is to fix the 'abutment'. The abutment is the device which will enable your dentist to fix the tooth to the implant. Once this process is complete your gums will take a week or 2 to heal completely.