What are implants?

What are dental implants?
image-source: istockphoto.com, author: marvinh

A dental implant is an artificial root. It usually has a screw shape or cylindrical design. Dental implants have been used in dentistry for approximately 40 years. Many different materials have been tried in search of the ideal one to implant. In the last 30 years the fast pace of implantological research pure titanium has proven to be the best material for dental implants. It is literally “implanted” into the jawbone in place of missing teeth. Depending on the amount of bone present the healing time lasts between two and six months. The probability of healing is presently 95% and is dependent upon various factors (i.e. oral hygiene, general health, smoking). An implant takes on the same functions as the original root as it knits directly with the bone. It can take on a crown, bridge or it can be an anchor for removable partial denture.

Implantatformen
picture: different implants

image source: Nobel Biocare
Implantat-Aufbauten
image: individual implant crowns and abutments

image source: Nobel Biocare