What are Dental Implants?
— Hill Country, TX

Here at Precision Dentistry and Implants, we receive many patients who are looking for a better way of restoring missing teeth than dentures and dental bridges. For these patients, we often recommend treatment with dental implants, a restoration system that has been rising in popularity due to its ability to provide beautiful looking replacement teeth that work and feel just as good as natural teeth.

Because dental implants have not spent as much time in the forefront of tooth restoration technology, not a lot of people are actually aware of what this treatment is. We encourage you to read on to learn more about the parts that make up a dental implant and the unique benefits that come with this procedure.

What Parts Make Up a Dental Implant

The most common type of dental implant in use today is made up of three distinct pieces. While there are implants that are made up of only two pieces, we have found the three-piece system to provide the best results. These three pieces are:

• The Implant Fixture: This is the most important piece of the dental implant as it is what will take the place of your missing tooth’s root. Because of a natural occurring process called osseointegration, this artificial root is accepted by your body as natural, and is integrated into your jaw structure. This is all possible thanks to the fact that titanium, the material the implant fixture is made from, is completely biocompatible, and your jawbone will fuse to your fixture as if it were a natural tooth root.
• The Abutment: The next piece of the dental implant is the abutment, which works as a connector between the fixture and the restoration. Much like the implant fixture, the abutment also tends to be made from titanium, though you will have more freedom when it comes to determining what this piece will be made from. This piece is usually placed after the implant fixture has healed, though it can also be placed directly after the fixture’s placement in some circumstances.
• The Restoration: The final piece of the dental implant is the restoration, which usually takes the form of a dental crown, dental bridge, or overdenture. Regardless of which type of restoration you use to finish your implant, we will custom make it specifically for you based on scans taken of your remaining teeth. By basing your restoration on your natural teeth, we are able to provide beautiful replacement teeth that fit your smile perfectly.

You can learn more about how these pieces are placed by visiting our page explaining the dental implant procedure.

The Benefits of Osseointegration

The many benefits that come with dental implants are all a result of the process of osseointegration, which occurs during the healing period of the implant process. Not many people are aware, but the jawbone is actually able to naturally regenerate bone tissue. When an implant fixture is placed, it strains the jawbone, causing this regeneration process to begin. Because titanium is biocompatible, this new tissue will actually grow along the implant fixture, fusing with it just like it would with a natural tooth. Each implant fixture is also covered in small holes, which this new tissue will thread itself through.

Thanks to osseointegration, dental implants have many unique benefits. Because of the small holes in the implant fixture, the new tissue threaded through these holes will pull your implant into place, holding it there permanently. This means that your implant fixture will never get loose or move out of place. An added benefit of this is the fact that you will never need to remove your implants for cleaning. In fact, you will simply brush and floss your implants like you would your natural teeth. You will also want to be sure to attend your regularly scheduled cleanings and checkups. Even with this minimal amount of care, your dental implants have the potential to end up lasting you the rest of your lifetime.

Learn More About Dental Implants in Hill Country, TX

Do you have any questions about the form of a dental implant that you would like addressed? Are you interested in learning more about osseointegration and how it works? Then we encourage you to contact our Kerrville or Fredericksburg area offices and schedule a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Matthew Huff today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.