What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are metal roots or posts that are attached into the jawbone underneath your gums. The posts allow custom made replacement teeth to be painlessly mounted in your mouth. Since the posts are securely fused in the jawbone, they provide an excellent support for artificial teeth. One of the main complaints for dentures and bridges is that they shift and move around in your mouth. With dental implants your artificial teeth no longer move around, and they feel natural even when you’re eating and talking. In order to receive dental implants, you must have healthy gums and a good strong jawbone that can support the metal posts. Good oral hygiene and regular followup visits are needed to ensure the success of dental implants. A visit to your dentist will indicate if you are a candidate for the procedure.
There are two main types of implants to consider:
Endosteal implants are surgically implanted right into your jawbone. After the gum tissue has healed on top, another surgery is needed to attach the posts and the artificial teeth.
Subperiosteal implants have a metal frame that fits onto the jawbone below the gums. Once the gums heal, the frame is fixed to the jawbone. Attached to the frame are posts which protrude through the gums and allow the artificial teeth to be mounted.
Metal posts are placed below the gums.
The artificial teeth are attached to the posts.
Dental implants provide a very stable and secure fit.
Dental implants act as a base for a single replacement tooth.
Source and artwork from Colgate.com
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