Dental implants are a popular choice for people who are missing teeth. Not only do they look natural, but they also function like natural teeth. They are placed in the jawbone and support a variety of prosthetics, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. In this blog post, we will discuss more about dental implants and the three types of prosthetics that can be supported by dental implants.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are metal posts that are surgically placed in the jawbone. They act as a replacement for the root of a tooth. Once they are in place, they provide a sturdy foundation for artificial teeth.
Dental implants are a popular choice for people who are missing teeth because they look and function like natural teeth. They are also a good choice for people who have difficulty wearing dentures.
Dental implants are placed in the jawbone through a surgical procedure. First, the area is numbed and an incision is made in the gum. Then, a hole is drilled into the jawbone and the implant is inserted. The incision is then closed with stitches. Once the implant heals, then a dental prosthetic can be attached.
What are the three types of prosthetics that can be supported by dental implants?
The three types of prosthetics that can be supported by dental implants are crowns, bridges, and dentures. The type of prosthetic used will depend on the total number of missing teeth that need to be replaced.
Crowns
A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers the metal post abutment that sticks out of the gums and attaches the the implant. It is usually made of porcelain or ceramic and is made to resemble a single natural tooth. When only a single tooth needs to be replaced, an implant-supported crown is used.
Bridges
A bridge is a dental prosthetic that replaces one or more missing teeth. It consists of two crowns that are attached to artificial teeth in between. The bridge is then supported by the crowns on either side that are attached to metal abutment posts. This approach can replace multiple missing teeth that are adjacent to one another with the use of only two dental implants.
Dentures
A denture is a dental prosthetic that replaces all of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Some dentures also contain prosthetic gum tissue. Dentures are made of plastic or porcelain and fits over the gums. The denture is then attached to the metal posts that stick out from the gums. There are a few different types of implant-supported dentures, some that are removable and some that are fixed in the mouth. There are also all-on-four implants, which is a technique that uses four implants to attach a denture. However, some dentures may require more than four implants to be secured in place.
In Conclusion
In this blog, we discussed dental implants and the three types of prosthetics that they can support. Dental implants are a popular choice for people who are missing teeth because they look natural, function like natural teeth, and provide a sturdy foundation for artificial teeth. The three types of prosthetics that can be supported by dental implants include crowns, bridges, and dentures. The type of prosthetic used will depend on the total number of missing teeth that need to be replaced.
Do you have any questions about dental implants or the types of prosthetics they can support? If so, please feel free to contact our office for more information. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have!