Dental Implants and Implantology
The dental implant consists of an artificial root which is anchored to the bone with the function of supporting the crown to replace the missing tooth. An abutment acts as a bridge between the artificial root and the artificial crown. The abutment is a simple and effective structure, made of highly biocompatible materials such as titanium that integrates perfectly with the bone of most people, avoiding the occurrence of foreign body reactions. If you need a dental implant because you are missing one or more teeth, you can come to us at East Valley Implant & Periodontal Center.
What is Dental Implantology?
Dental implantology is a type of oral surgery and branch of dentistry that aims to replace missing teeth with dental implants. This type of surgery is used when the teeth are missing in the arch for extractions or fractures. In the presence of diseased dental elements, the primary objective is always to try and save the original tooth. When that cannot happen, the most effective form of treatment is the dental implant since it works in the same way as the original tooth and root would.
When performing a dental implant procedure, we place the root of the implant first, then apply the permanent tooth later after the root has healed. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the number of implants and health of your mouth, among other factors.
In some cases, immediate implants can be placed, in which both the implant and the root can be positioned in the same session. Immediate implants can be applied only if it is possible to ensure that the implant does not undergo micromovements in the following weeks of healing. If the implant is likely to move, then we typically opt for temporary tooth options since they can withstand a little more movement during the healing process.
The Different Dental Implants
The most common dental implant uses the dental crown as a topper for the abutment placed during surgery. It is a single tooth prosthesis placed on a titanium root. It is used to replace single teeth.
If several teeth are missing, the fixed dental bridge can be used. It typically rests on a single titanium root, but the prosthesis replaces two or more teeth (not very many, otherwise more roots are used). This is usually considered a much better choice than mobile bridges, because it does not have to file the teeth adjacent to the empty spaces.
Lastly, if all the teeth of one or both arches are missing, you can resort to All on 4. It is a 4-root titanium dental implant on which the prosthetic dental arches are positioned. An alternative version of the All on 4 is the All on 6. This is the same procedure, but the prosthetic dental arches are fixed to six titanium roots.
If you are missing one, several, or all teeth, the choice of a dental implant is the best from an economic, practical, and functional point of view. Compared to mobile systems, in fact, it is a better solution from all points of view. To make an appointment with one of our professionals at East Valley Implant & Periodontal Center just call (480) 900-2771 and schedule a consultation.
