Dental implants are the ideal solution to tooth loss because they look, work, and feel like real teeth, but many people may have difficulty understanding unfamiliar terms associated with them. Thankfully, it’s easy to learn a few important terms that will help you understand how dental implants work and why they are so remarkable. Here’s a brief guide to some basic dental implant terminology to help you navigate your journey to a beautifully complete smile.
What Are Some Common Dental Implant Terms?
A few important dental implant terms include:
Abutment
The abutment piece connects the dental implant to the restoration mounted upon it. This allows the dental crown, bridge, or denture to remain secure in its place.
Ceramic
Ceramics are materials such as porcelain that are made from clay that is hardened by heat. These substances can be shaped, smoothed, and shaded to resemble natural enamel, making them ideal for dental restorations such as artificial teeth.
Crown
A dental crown is a restoration that is mounted on a dental implant to replace a single tooth. This appliance is specially crafted by a skilled technician so that it is durable and perfectly lifelike.
Denture
Patients who are missing many or a whole row of teeth may benefit most from having a denture attached to their dental implants. These appliances consist of lifelike artificial teeth set in a base usually made from gum-colored acrylic.
Endosteal implant
Endosteal implants are the most common type of dental implants, and they consist of a titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone, a lifelike dental restoration, and an abutment piece holding them together.
Implant
A dental implant is a dental prosthetic device surgically placed into the jawbone to replace one or more lost teeth.
Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the natural process by which the titanium of a dental implant fuses with the bone tissue surrounding it, creating a sturdy and durable hold that can possibly last for a lifetime if it receives excellent care.
Titanium
Titanium is an alloy known for its light weight as well as its remarkable ability to naturally fuse with bone tissue through the process of osseointegration, which makes it particularly useful for prosthetic devices such as dental implants.
Zirconia
Since some people are allergic to titanium, dental implants can also be made from zirconia. Implants made from this substance are white in color, which can help them look more like natural teeth, and have a lower risk of bacterial growth since they have no prosthetic connections.
Are Dental Implants Right for Me?
The only way to know for sure if you can be a suitable candidate for dental implants is to schedule a consultation with your dentist. At this appointment, your dentist will evaluate your oral health and review your medical history to determine the best way to replace your teeth. If you are not a good candidate yet, you may be able to become one later after clearing up any tooth decay or gum disease with restorative treatments or reinforcing your jawbones with bone grafts.
Knowing a few dental implant terms can make the process of getting them much easier to understand. Consulting with your dentist can help you find out if implants are right for you.
About the Practice
918 Dentist of Glenpool offers the finest oral health services from offices in Glenpool and Sperry. Led by Drs. Dalia Georgy and Parnam Mohanna, the staff ensures that each patient receives compassionate care and outstanding customer service. The practice provides general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as implant services. To schedule your dental implant consultation, contact the practice online.