Learn More About How Our O’Fallon Dental Implant Dentists Build Replacement Teeth
A dental implant is a stand-alone replacement tooth that is permanently embedded into the patient’s jawbone. A dental implant doesn’t just replace the visible portion of a patients tooth; it also replaces the missing tooth root.
Although a dental implant, once complete, looks like a whole replacement tooth, every dental implant is actually composed of three distinct parts. Today our O’Fallon dental implant dentists will be giving you more information about the three parts of the dental implant work together for exceptional results.
We have already mentioned that every dental implant has a replacement tooth root. This root is made of titanium, and it is shaped like a post or screw. The root will vary in circumference depending on whether the implant is full-sized or mini. The implant root serves as the foundation of the replacement tooth as a whole. The root keeps the replacement tooth in place permanently, and it helps support jawbone tissue. These roots are always made of titanium, because titanium has the ability to osseointegrate (bond) with human bone tissue.
Working our way up from the implant root you will find a piece called the abutment. This is essentially a connector piece—it is designed to hold the implant root and the dental crown together. The abutment creates a strong connection between these two pieces, while still allowing for an adequate amount of flexibility and “give” so that the implant does not snap when you put pressure on it.
The final piece of the dental implant is the crown. The crown looks like a natural tooth, so once it is attached to the abutment, you smile will look whole again. Dental implant crowns are designed to stay sturdy and strong for years.
Every piece of the dental implant is critical to the replacement tooth’s overall success. These replacement teeth deliver exceptional aesthetic and functional results—contact our O’Fallon dental implant dentists to learn more.