Our teeth consist of a visible part called the crown along with a lower part supporting it, called the root. The root is under the gum and provides an anchor from the jaw bone to keep the tooth firmly in place.
A dental implant is used to replace the root of the effected tooth. It is usually made of Titanium or a Titanium alloy. A crown made of suitable material is then placed on the implant.
Your dentist drills an opening in the jaw bone under the gums. The main “fixture” is a screw made of Titanium or a Titanium alloy. It is driven into the jaw bone and the surrounding gum is stitched back. As the jaw bone heals, the fixture fuses with it to become firmly embedded. Depending on the condition of your jaw bone, the jaw bone may take several weeks to a few months to heal.
After your jaw bone has sufficiently healed, a crown, bridge or denture is placed on the implant with the help of a connector called an abutment. A single artificial tooth, a bridge or dentures with several teeth can be mounted on the implant.
Advances in dental materials have resulted in newer implants such as those made from Zirconia, a ceramic. A version that combines the fixture and the abutment into a single Zirconia implant is available and is approved by the USFDA.
An implant provides a firm, secure and stable support for your artificial tooth. Dentures fixed on implants are stable. They do not slip or shake in place. This helps you quickly get used to your new dentures. You start to eat normally and talk naturally sooner.
One upside of going in for an implant is that it does not need the nearby teeth to be prepared in any way. Once you have them placed in position and healed, you can maintain them just like your natural teeth.