Natural teeth are designed to last a lifetime. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many people. Many people are missing at least one tooth, sometimes even all of their teeth, due to periodontal disease, tooth decay, or trauma. Thanks to advances in dental technology, a realistic replacement has been developed that acts, looks, and feels just like natural teeth.
Dental implants are now the number one solution for replacing missing teeth. They are the only solution that most resembles real teeth. If you put a natural tooth and dental implant side by side, you will see that their parts are very similar; a root that holds the tooth in place and a crown which is the part seen above the gums. Just like natural teeth, if implants are cared for properly with regular brushing and flossing and dental check-ups, they can last a lifetime.
Dr. Heather Adams is a local restorative dentist in Rogers Arkansas that offers many types of dental implants in Rogers, AR for patients missing one, multiple, or all of their teeth. She coordinates treatment with local oral surgeons or periodontists to bring her patients the very best tooth-replacement option. To understand why teeth implants are the best option, it’s important to understand what they are made up of and how they work.
A Dental Implant Has 3 Parts
A dental implant restoration consists of 3 separate parts; the implant post, the abutment, and a dental restoration.
The Dental Implant – The term implant actually refers to the metal post that is surgically implanted into the jaw. The post is made up of titanium, chosen due to its strength and ability to fuse with the jaw bone. It is also very lightweight yet extremely durable. The process where the bone cells attach themselves to the titanium post is called osseointegration.
Titanium is rarely rejected by the human body making an implant extremely dependable. It is cylinder-shaped, resembling a typical screw-in appearance. A dental implant will act as the missing tooth’s root structure. They are the only teeth replacement option to replace the roots, preventing bone loss in the jaw.
The Abutment – This little part called an abutment is connected to the implant post after healing. It can take up to six months for the post to heal and fuse with the surrounding bone. After that, the implant is uncovered and the abutment will be screwed or cemented to the titanium post. This tiny connector piece will sit right at the gum line and will support the dental prosthesis.
The Dental Restoration – The final piece of the dental implant is the finished restoration. This is the part that looks just like natural teeth and will complete your smile. The kind of finished restoration you need depends on how many teeth you are missing and where they are located. The prosthetic tooth will be a dental crown for a single missing tooth.
The dental crown is typically cemented or screwed directly onto the abutment. A dental bridge or denture will be used for multiple missing teeth. They can be secured to the abutment by simply snapping them into place, with tiny screws or even cemented into place. We offer dental restorations that are color-matched to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
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