Have you been hiding your smile because you’re self-conscious about missing teeth? Maybe you’ve heard about implants but have put off doing anything about it because you’re just not sure what dental implants are exactly?
You’ve probably heard that dental implants are an excellent permanent solution for missing teeth, and that they are being used increasingly in place of traditional tooth replacement methods. But what are they and why do they work? Let’s take a look at the three basic components of a dental implant.

The Dental Implant Fixture
The Dental Implant Fixture is the part of the implant that is embedded in and becomes anchored to the jawbone through a process called “osseointegration”. Osseointegration simply refers to the process where the implant and surrounding tissue grow together, creating a permanent, new structure. This portion of the dental implant lies below the gum line and is sometimes referred to as the “artificial root”. The implant fixture is made of titanium in a screw-shaped design, and the surface is microscopically roughened, increasing its total surface area and creating greater bone-to-implant contact.

The Dental Implant Abutment
The abutment of a tooth implant is the stub portion of the fixture that will sit slightly above the gum line with a protruding surface that the crown or bridgework will rest upon. In order for the implant fixture to have time to fully integrate with the bone, the abutment is usually attached to the implant fixture by your Provo Cosmetic Dentist several months after the titanium screw portion is placed.

The Dental Prosthesis
This is the part of the implant unit that is visible and will become your new tooth. “Prosthesis” refers to the dental crown or dental bridgework that is supported by the implant and the abutment described above. Depending on how this dental work has been designed, it can either be cemented or screwed into place. The placement of the dental prosthesis is the final step in the implant process.

If you are missing one or more teeth you may be a good candidate for dental implants. But each patient has different needs, so schedule a consultation with Provo Cosmetic Dentistry Office to determine if dental implants are right for you.

As new technologies are developed in other industries, modern dentistry has kept pace, utilizing modern methods and materials that were not available even twenty years ago. These new methods not only open new areas of treatment in general and restorative dentistry, but greatly enhance the patient’s comfort and recovery time. A good example is the seeming explosion of the use of dental implants made possible in recent years through the use of titanium.

Dental implants can now be used to replace missing teeth. A titanium ‘root’ is implanted into the jaw and allowed to integrate into the surrounding tissue and bone (referred to as osseointegration). Once the ‘root’ has integrated with the structure of the jaw, a dental prosthetic is attached, creating a ‘new’ tooth.

Some patients are concerned about the safety of titanium because it is a foreign substance, but your Provo Cosmetic Dentist knows that there is simply no other metal in existence that can be introduced into the human body safely and with the benefits of titanium, and it has become the metal of choice within the medical field. Titanium is:

• Strong, yet lightweight
• Corrosion Resistant
• Cost-efficient
• Non-toxic
• Biocompatible (non-toxic AND not rejected by the body)
• Long-lasting
• Non-ferromagnetic (patients with titanium implants can safely obtain MRI’s)
• Osseointegrated (the joining of bone with artificial implant)
• Flexible and elastic rivaling that of human bone

Titanium is also incredibly durable and long-lasting and can last longer than 20 years. Titanium dental implants can be safely used as titanium is judged to be completely inert and immune to corrosion by all body fluids and tissue, making it completely bio-compatible.

If you’re embarrassed about missing teeth, contact our Provo, UT Dentist Office today for a free consultation. It is possible to bring back your beautiful smile safely and effectively with long-lasting dental implants.