What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a piece of specially prepared titanium which is surgically placed in the bone beneath the gums and can be used to support crowns, bridges, or dentures.
Because titanium is a material accepted by the body, the bone in which the implant is placed will bond with the implant through a process called osseointegration. The implant effectively becomes an artificial tooth root.
Online Resources
What Are Implants? (Colgate)
Images
The following images show the titanium implant and the resulting crown.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Dental implants can seem overwhelming for people at first. But, there are so many benefits to consider that are more long-term than other solutions, including dentures. Some of the biggest benefits of dental implants include:
- They are designed to be mostly permanent
- They can keep your other teeth healthy and strong
- The results are reliable
- You don’t have to worry about taking them out to clean or maintain
- They look more like your normal teeth
Dental implants aren’t for everyone. If you’re only missing one or two teeth, you might consider another option. But, if you’re ready to completely restore your smile, implants could be the perfect solution.