Find out what makes a dental implant such an ideal treatment for those with tooth loss.

Want to find out what it’s like to get dental implants from your Jenkintown, PA dentists Drs. Cary and Jonathan Limberakis? Learn more about what makes a dental implant work and how it can treat your tooth loss.

The Anatomy of a Dental Implant

A dental implant consists of three different parts:

The Implant

The implant itself looks just like a tiny post or screw and is made from a biocompatible metal such as titanium so that the body’s tissue won’t reject it. A small hole is drilled into the jawbone where your missing tooth roots once were. The implant is placed into the drilled portion of the bone and then the gums are stitched back up.

Over the course of several weeks the bone and tissue around the implant will grow and fuse together to become one. The implant then becomes a permanent part of the jawbone, just like real tooth roots. This natural process is known as osseointegration. This is the main reason implants are so successful and are considered the best long-term solution for replacing a missing tooth.

The Abutment

Since the implant is under the gums there needs to be a specific structure that connects the implant with a dental crown. This is where the abutment comes in. This extender can be made from either tooth-colored material or metal and is used to connect the dental crown to the implant.

A Dental Crown

No implant would be complete without something that looked like a real tooth. Luckily, your Jenkintown dentist will complete your implant by securing a custom-made crown on top of the abutment. Just like abutments, dental crowns can be made from a variety of different materials but are most commonly made from porcelain or composite resin since these materials resemble natural teeth.

While dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, keep in mind that if you are looking to replace several or all of your teeth multiple dental implants can be placed to hold a dental bridge or complete set of dentures. So no matter how many teeth you are missing, dental implants could help.

Have we piqued your interest? Do dental implants sound like the tooth loss solution you’ve been waiting for? If so, then it’s time to schedule an appointment with your Jenkintown dentist at Limberakis Family Dentistry.