Fortunately, losing a tooth no longer means that you need to go the rest of your life without it. There are numerous tooth replacement options out there to help people get their smiles back. Dental implants are a preferred option because of their numerous benefits. Before committing to this treatment option, you want to be well informed and that means knowing some of the common terms associated with dental implants. Here are a handful of them.
Abutment
This is a connecter that’s attached to the top of your dental implant. It serves as the attachment for the replacement tooth. It also helps to guarantee that your new tooth stays firmly in its rightful place. The abutment tooth is a crowned tooth that supports and stabilizes a bridge or partial denture.
Ceramic
This is one of the most common materials that is used to create the teeth that are placed on the end of dental implants. It is made from a type of clay and then hardened by heat.
Crown
A crown, or cap, is used to replace a single tooth that has been damaged, broken, or missing. They typically fit over an existing tooth. However, in the case of dental implants, they are attached to the abutment to become perfectly grounded.
Dentures
This is a traditional tooth replacement option that you are likely familiar with. However, there are several different types of dentures available, like implant dentures. Instead of being held in by the natural suction of your mouth, they are supported by dental implants. This allows for additional longevity and stability.
Endosteal Implant
This is the most common type of dental implant. In this case, a dentist places the implant into your jawbone through a surgical procedure. Every implant holds at least one replacement tooth.
Eposteal Implant
Instead of being placed into the jawbone, eposteal implants are supported by resting on the jawbone. This isn’t very common anymore, but this type of implant still may be suggested if a patient is at high risk of advanced bone resorption.
Osseointegration
This is the biological process where a dental implant fuses with your existing bone. This improves the strength of both your jawbone and the dental implant.
With these dental implant related terms, you can better understand how your upcoming procedure will work. You’ll be showing off your smile with pride again in no time!
About the Author
Dr. Nelson Y. Howard is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for more than 34 years. He earned his dental doctorate from the UCLA School of Dentistry and is proud to be the first dentist in all of North San Diego County and one of only 466+ dentists in the world to become an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). He is also a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, a Founding Member of the West Coast Society for Cosmetic Dentistry and the North County Dentist’s Disability Service. To learn more about dental implants or to schedule a consultation at his office in San Diego, CA, visit his website or (858) 451-0550.