Have you ever really taken the time to look at a dental implant? If not, we recommend you take a second and check out the picture on the right. Looks kind of familiar, doesn’t it? Dental implants are designed to look and work just like any one of your natural teeth. One of the things that makes dental implants such an effective treatment is that it doesn’t try to redo something that has already been done right. Today, Dr. Anthony Dailley is blogging from Berkeley, CA to give an overview of the pieces that make up a dental implant.
The Building Blocks of a Dental Implant
Dental implants are typically made up of three different parts. These parts include:
The Implant Fixture
The implant fixture is the most important piece of a dental implant because it is the part that will be doing all the work. During the implant procedure, the implant fixture is placed in the empty spot left behind by your missing tooth. While recovering, osseointegration occurs, which is the process of the implant fixture being accepted by your jaw structure as a natural part of your body. This process is possible because the implant fixture is made from titanium, which is a metal that the body doesn’t recognize as a foreign material.
The Abutment
The abutment is the second piece of the dental implant to be placed, and is the part that will serve as a connector between the implant fixture and the replacement crown. The abutment is usually attached to the implant fixture once it has had enough time to heal. However, it can sometimes be possible to attach the abutment directly after the implant procedure. Much like the implant fixture, the abutment is also made from titanium.
The Replacement Crown
Once the implant fixture has been fully integrated into your oral structure and the abutment is attached, you will have your replacement crown attached. Our crowns are custom made for each patient based on impressions we have taken of their remaining natural teeth. This allows us to craft beautiful replacement teeth that are capable of fitting in perfectly among our patients’ natural teeth. In fact, our crowns look so realistic that once they are in place, no one will even be able to tell the difference between your artificial and natural teeth.
Call and Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Anthony Dailley
The shape of dental implants combined with the titanium that makes them up provides a beautiful replacement tooth that is both comfortable and reliable. We recommend our patients pursue treatment with dental implants quickly, as there is no longer any reason for those suffering from missing teeth to continue on with a smile they don’t love. If you would like to learn more about the pieces that make up a dental implant or about what it takes to be a good candidate for treatment with them, we encourage you to contact us and schedule a no-obligation consultation with dental implant provider Dr. Anthony Dailley.