Dental Implants

Dental implants are metal pins that are placed in the jaw to replace the roots of missing teeth and support the bite. It is still not clear why implants successfully bond to the jaw bone, but it is well-documented that titanium, the metal that implants are made from, is fully compatible with body tissues. That is the reason that knee replacements and hip joint replacements are now often made of titanium. Bone grows so intimately to the titanium surface that the implant is physically bonded. After bone has bonded to the dental implant, it becomes an artificial but fully functional root, and special fittings are placed on it to which the dentist can fabricate a crown, bridge or other devices to restore bite function.

Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or multiple teeth. It is becoming the standard of care to replace a single missing tooth with an implant rather than with a bridge because the implant has the better long-term prognosis. Many people in full dentures often have two or more dental implants placed in order to lock a denture in place so that they can chew comfortably and speak normally.

Sometimes if a tooth has been missing for a long time the bone which supported that tooth begins to resorb away. If there is insufficient bone to stabilize the implant, a bone grafting procedure may be necessary. Please click the link called ‘Bone Grafting’ to learn more about these treatments.