Dental implants have become quite common. Here is a bit of information about dental implants to help you better understand them.

What Is an Implant?

 An implant is a tiny screw-like post that is fashioned from titanium metal. Titanium is used because it is biocompatible, which means it rarely causes an immunological response from the body.

The implant is placed In the jawbone of the patient to provide a stable foundation for other prosthetic devices that replace the crowns of the missing teeth.

How Does an Implant Stabilize in the Mouth?  

After the dentist inserts the implant into the bone of the jaw, a healing process called osseointegration begins. The process involves the formation of new bone cells in the spaces between the implant and the jawbone.

Over time, as the bone cells fill these spaces, the implant becomes completely stabilized in the mouth. In fact, the integration is so complete that the implant can handle the same degree of bite pressure as a natural tooth.

Are There Multiple Types of Dental Implants?

The types of dental implants include endosteal implants and subperiosteal implants. Endosteal implants are embedded deeply into the jawbone and are used to stabilize teeth replacement options, such as dental bridges and dentures.

Subperiosteal implants are also used to support crown-replacement devices. However, they are applied when the jawbone is unable to support the deep insertion of an implant. These implants use a metal fitting that wraps around the jawbone and is situated beneath the gums and over the bone itself.

Additionally, dental implants may be categorized by their size. Miniature implants may be used when the jawbone is healthy enough to support an insertion but still not thick enough to support a full-sized implant.

Also, the location of the implant's placement can define the type of the implant. Some implants are zygomatic. They are inserted into the cheekbone instead of the jawbone.

What Are Some of the Applications That Utilize Dental Implants?

Nowadays, there are many different applications for implants. Here are a few of them:

• Overdentures. Overdentures are designed to rest on top of dental implants for support. The dentures include a mechanism on their underside to connect to the abutments on top of the implants.
• Implant-supported bridges. The bridges are fixed in place by their attachment to dental implants.
• All-on-4 Implants. A set of replacement teeth is attached to four strategically placed implants using screws.

To learn more about dental implants, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.