How Dental Implants Work

If you’re curious to learn how dental implants work, you’re not alone. This blog post from East Bentleigh Dental Group is for anyone who has been wondering how dental implants work, as it will not only answer this question, but also provide some interesting insights into the process involved.

How They Work

Dental implants are used to seamlessly replace missing teeth, and they achieve this by having a design that mimics the structure of a natural tooth. A natural tooth is made up of two distinct parts – the crown, which is the part that we can see that protrudes above the gum, and the root, which can’t be seen and sits securely in the jawbone. A dental implant works in the same way and also consists of two parts – the implant that’s inserted into the jaw and the artificial tooth that’s inserted into the implant.

The Surgery Process

If you want to understand how dental implants work in greater detail, it’s necessary to take a look at the surgery process. Dental implants aren’t something that can be done in an afternoon like a filling. In fact, they can be quite a major undertaking.

The first part of the treatment involves making an opening in the patient’s jawbone in order for an implant to be inserted into. Once this has been done, an implant will be inserted under the skin and into the bone. The implant will then have a healing cover placed over it, and the gums will need to be sutured.

As the surgery site begins to heal, the bone molecules will begin to attach themselves to the titanium surrounding the implant in a process called osseointegration. This can take anywhere from 2 to 4 months. The implant will then be ready to receive a metal post, which will be used to attach the crown. A custom restoration will be fitted and securely placed, and following this, anchors will become securely embedded in the patient’s jaw as the bone grows around them.

Finally, abutment posts will be inserted into the anchors, and from there, specially crafted replacement teeth will be attached to the metal posts. The overall result is a flawless tooth replacement that fits in with the patient’s existing teeth.

Learn More Today

If you think that dental implants may be right for you, contact East Bentleigh Dental Group to arrange a consultation. We’re happy to discuss with you how dental implants work and answer any questions you may have.