How Familiar Are You With Dental Implants?

If you have been spending time deciding which teeth replacement solution is best for your smile, you know that dental implants offer many exceptional benefits. However, you may also find yourself stumbling a bit through certain details simply because you’re not that familiar with implants, their parts, or the way they work to replace your entire tooth (that’s right, they offer the only solution that restores your full tooth, including your roots and the visible portion that sits above your gumline). Fortunately, learning a few terms will help you on your way toward deciding whether implants offer the solution you desire for a complete smile.

An “Implant” Is…

A titanium post that stands in place of your tooth’s roots. When you lose your tooth, your roots go, too. Fortunately, you may choose a dental implant to restore this lower portion of your tooth. You will undergo surgery to receive an implant, which will then require an extensive recovery period. After approximately three months or so, we will be able to move forward with completing your tooth replacement.

The “Abutment” Is…

A connector. You see, your dental implant will replace your roots. You will still need to replace the part of your tooth that you can see when you smile and that you use to chew. To connect the post to this visible tooth replacement, we rely on an accessory called an “abutment.”

A “Restoration” Is…

A prosthetic. About that portion of your tooth that you can see above your gumline – we need to replace it with a prosthetic. We call this artificial tooth (or collection of teeth) a “restoration.” You may also hear us say we are “restoring” your implant rather than saying we’re topping it. Restorations include dental crowns, dentures, and sometimes bridges.

“Osseointegration” Means…

That your dental implant post and jawbone tissue are fusing with the goal of them becoming like one. This is what makes for successful implant placement – once the osseointegration is complete and your gum tissue heals, we can place the restoration.

ABOUT YOUR CONROE, TX DENTIST:

The Dental Centre of Conroe, John M Richards DDS delivers distinctive cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry for residents of Conroe, Houston, The Woodlands, Montgomery, Willis, Magnolia, Huntsville, and the neighboring communities. For more information about our services, or to schedule an appointment, contact us by calling (936) 441-4600.