What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium or ceramic posts inserted into your jawbone to hold artificial teeth. They act like the roots of your natural teeth to provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.
Dental implant surgery replaces tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts and replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and work much like real ones. Dental implant surgery can be a helpful choice when dentures or bridgework fit poorly. This surgery also can be an option when there aren't enough natural teeth roots to support dentures or build bridgework tooth replacements.
The type of implant and the condition of the jawbone guide how dental implant surgery is done. This surgery may involve several procedures. The major benefit of implants is solid support for the new teeth — a process that requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant. Because this bone healing requires time, the process can take many months.
Subperiosteal (on the bone): This type of implant is placed on top of the jaw with metal framework’s posts that protrude through the gum to hold the implant in place. Subperiosteal implants are generally used for patients who are unable to wear conventional dentures and don’t have adequate bone height to hold an endosteal implant.
Endosteal (in the bone): This is the most common type of implant. Its various forms include screws, cylinders or blades surgically placed into the jawbone. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is generally an alternative for patients who are now wearing bridges or removable dentures.
Dental Surgery refers to a range of medical procedures performed on the teeth, gums, and jawbones to treat various dental conditions, injuries, or defects. Common types of dental surgery include tooth extractions, wisdom tooth removal, dental implants, gum grafts, root-end surgery (apicoectomy), and corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery). These procedures are typically carried out by oral surgeons or specialized dentists under local or general anesthesia. Dental surgery plays a vital role in restoring oral health, relieving pain, improving function, and enhancing the overall appearance of a patient’s smile.
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