Dental Implants have been an integral part of dentistry for decades. I have been restoring them since I graduated the University of Pennsylvania Dental School in 1991.
Dental implants or fixtures are a way to replace a missing tooth or multiple teeth. They are placed by a dental practitioner (i.e. oral surgeon or periodontist) who has trained in the placement of these titanium screws. Dental implants can be placed in areas of the mouth where teeth have been missing for a short period of time. They may even be placed at the time of tooth extraction. Implants can even be placed in areas where teeth have been missing for extended periods, but additional procedures may need to be performed to augment the implant’s foundation.
Once the foundation has been created by the implantologist, we, as the restorative dentist, perform the finish work and place the restoration. The restoration is connected to the implant via an abutment. The abutment (or post) is typically attached to the implant via a screw retained mechanism. The dental crown(s) is (are) either cemented or screwed into the implant body. Esthetics and function are then restored to the patient.
In my next article, I will go into more detail about the processes of implant placement, integration and restoration.
Please visit KarlArakelianDMD.com. Click on Services>Dental Implants for a very short and informative video on Implants.
