What Is A Dental Implant Exactly?
Dental implants in Richmond are fast becoming a popular form of missing tooth replacement and are overtaking dentures and crowns in this respect. Typically this also mirrors what’s going on in the rest of the UK. The main reason for this is that not only are implants recognised as the most technologically advanced form of tooth replacement, there’s also a lot more information available about them. So previously when people were sceptical, implants are now being embraced for the wonder of modern dentistry they actually are. If you’re looking at missing tooth options and don’t know much about dental implants then you might well be asking the question “What exactly are they?” And more importantly how do they work? Let’s take a closer look.
Firstly the implant itself
Many people are under the misnomer that a dental implant in Richmond is in fact the prosthetic crown or tooth that plugs the missing tooth gap. Whereas in reality the implant is actually the titanium rod or screw that the abutment and the permanent crown are fitted to. It’s made from titanium for several reasons. Firstly it won’t rust or tarnish. Secondly it won’t get rejected by the body, and finally it has the ability to attract bone tissue.
So why is this important?
Dental implants differ from any other form of tooth replacement because they’re anchored directly into the jawbone itself. When this happens the surrounding bone tissue fuses with the titanium implant over time to create a super-stable platform upon which to attach the crown. This is a process known as osseointegration and is vital to the overall success of the implant. If another non-compatible metal was used then this process simply wouldn’t occur and the implant wouldn’t be effective.
Also unlike any other form of tooth replacement dental implants do require the patient to undergo a surgical procedure. In addition the whole process is carried out in stages usually lasting anywhere between 6-9 months. So what are the stages of treatment?
Stage 1 – the patient attends a consultation where the implant dentist takes a series of detailed x-rays and scans of the mouth and teeth to ascertain the scale of the problem. They’ll also take into account previous medical health. From the information gained they’ll then produce a bespoke treatment plan for the coming months ahead.
Stage 2 – The next stage is the surgical process itself. The dental surgeon will drill a small hole down into the jawbone in the area where the implant is to be placed. Then the titanium implant is anchored into position. A temporary crown is placed on top of the implant so that the patient isn’t left with a tooth gap.
Stage 3 – The third stage is known as osseointegration. This is essentially recovery time and is the time taken for the surrounding bone tissue to merge and fuse with the implant. This can take anywhere between 3-6 months depending upon the patient.
Stage 4 – When osseointegration has successfully been achieved the patient is required to return to the surgery for an abutment fitting. The abutment is essentially a ball and socket-like piece of titanium that acts as a shock absorber between the implant and the permanent crown. In addition it also helps to secure the crown in place. This process requires another less invasive surgical procedure where a small incision is made in the gum in order to expose the implant. Once exposed the abutment is fixed into place.
Stage 5 – After the abutment is deemed secure (usually 1-2 weeks) the final permanent crown is fitted. This ends the process giving the patient a brand new lifelike tooth and root system.
If you’d like to find out more about dental implants in Richmond and how they can help you solve your missing tooth problems then why not book yourself a free, no-obligation consultation. To book an appointment you can either go through our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk, or contact us directly on 020 8876 5277. We look forward to hearing from you.