Dental Implant Parts
What is a Dental Implant Made of?
Dentists have used dental implants for many years to offer permanent alternatives to bridges and dentures. Dental implants, which are very natural looking, actually consist of three different parts: the body, the abutment, and the porcelain crown.
The body of the implant is made of titanium, which is actually the same expensive material used to make racing cars. It’s a great material for use in dental implants because of it’s lightness and durability, and also because it is naturally biocompatible, meaning that the human body rarely rejects it.
In considering getting a dental implant it can be helpful to fully understand the components of an implant.
Choosing durable and safe parts for your dental implant is an essential part of feeling confident for long-lasting results. Implants can help support a smile that will last a lifetime. Implants consist of three main parts:
- The Fixture : Placed under the gums, the actual implant itself (also called the fixture) is really just a small screw type piece. After a small hole is drilled where the roots of the missing tooth were, The fixture gets surgically placed into the jawbone to act as the “roots” for an implant. As healing happens, the jawbone fuses with the fixture in a process that is called osseointegration, allowing for the implant to permanently stay in the mouth. Implant fixtures are typically made from the naturally biocompatible metal, titanium. Using the right material, such as titanium, increases the likelihood of healthy osseointegration, and decreases the risk of corrosion.
- The Abutment : Since the fixture is placed completely under a person’s gumline, there is need for a connector for the proper attachment of the false tooth. This connectivity piece, or extender, is the abutment, which is simply a small screw that extends just above the gemlike in order to support the replacement. The abutment can be constructed of tooth-colored material or metal, and it can be a single integrated unit, or be separate from the fixture itself. Normally, a separate abutment is not attached until after the osseointegration process has taken place to ensure that the fixture has healed and settled. Sometimes, however, a dentist will place the abutment, the fixture, and a temporary restoration.
- The Prosthesis: The part of the implant that functions and looks just like a natural tooth is called the prosthesis. There are various material used for making a prosthetic tooth. A porcelain or ceramic prosthesis is most common and can be cemented to the abutment or screwed into place. Dental implants must be designed so that each piece is very strong and durable, so that you can use and enjoy the implant for a lifetime. Since the prosthesis and fixture are meant to function the way real teeth and roots do, you can eat and talk and and do your usual oral hygiene rituals without needing to replace or take out false teeth.
Dental implants are favored by many because of the convenience and permanence of their components.