If you’ve spent any time at all looking into tooth replacement, you’ve likely noticed a lot of good press surrounding dental implants. This technology has come a long way in recent years, and is now without a doubt the most durable method of filling a gap in your smile.
However, understanding everything that dental implants have to offer you can be a little bit difficult, especially considering the jargon often used to talk about them.
To help, here are the definitions of some common terms you’re likely to run into when researching dental implants.
Post
The post is the part of the implant actually placed into the jaw. In most cases, it’s a thin metal rod designed for a restoration to be securely attached to. In some circumstances, the term “implant” is used to refer to this element.
Restoration
In the context of dental implants, the term “restoration” refers to the portion meant to look like a tooth. They can be used to replace a single tooth, as in the case of a crown, or many, like with dentures. They can be made of acrylic, porcelain, or other materials depending on your needs.
Abutment
An abutment is a small, specialized metal piece used to connect the post to the restoration. It is often made of the same material as the post, i.e., titanium.
Osseointegration
One of the things that makes dental implants so durable is that they’re able to actually fuse to the jawbone, affording them much greater stability than you can get with just about any other style of tooth restoration.
The process of the dental implant fusing with the jaw is known as osseointegration, “osseo” coming from the Greek word for “bone.”
This vitally important element of dental implant surgery can be impaired if you have a limited healing factor, as in the case of diabetics. For that reason, you should talk extensively about your medical history with your dentist before undergoing dental implant surgery.
Peri-implantitis
One of the biggest threats to the integrity of your dental implant is infection. If you leave gum disease untreated, it may potentially begin to attack the jaw and erode it, compromising the foundation of your dental implants. This is a condition known as peri-implantitis, and in order to avoid it, it’s vitally important that you maintain good dental hygiene for full time you have your dental implant.
About the Author
Dr. Joshua Hong has never been comfortable with doing the bare minimum. He comes into work every single day ready to shoot for perfection, providing his patients with care that not only restores their teeth to excellent health, but that exceeds their every expectation. Dr. Hong received his dental degree from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco, and has trained extensively with the Foundation of Advanced Continuing Education (FACE).
If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (623) 925-8822.