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One of the most feared procedures in dentistry is dental implants. Why
do people fear such a procedure? Maybe they fear this because people
have less knowledge on this procedure. To make people understand about
dental implants, here are some of the information that have been
gathered for readers to see.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that a periodontist places
into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants
are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have
lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some
other reason.
There are two main categories of dental implants, the endosteal and the
subperiosteal. An endosteal implant is placed directly into the bone,
like natural tooth roots and can be used for many purposes. A single
pin can be inserted through an existing tooth to strengthen and
stabilize it. Other styles can provide an anchor for one or more
artificial teeth.
It is the most widely used design and generally placed where there is
plentiful width and depth of jawbone. Where the jawbone is too narrow
or short for immediate placement of root form implants the area may be
enhanced with bone grafting to allow for their placement.
When the jawbone is too narrow and not a good candidate for bone
grafting, a special narrow implant, called "plate form", can be placed
into the bone.
A subperiosteal implant is used when the bone has atrophied and
jaw structure is limited. The lightweight, individually-designed, metal
framework fits over the remaining bone, providing the equivalent of
multiple tooth roots. It may be used in a limited area or, if all the
teeth are missing in the entire mouth. The amount and location of
available bone determine the kind of implant that is best to use.
Natural tissue membrane or bone will grow back around either implant
making it even more secure.
Intramucosal inserts represent a third type of implant used with
removable dentures. The mushroom-shaped inserts attach to the gum-side
of the denture and fit into specially prepared indentions in the roof
of the mouth. They provide greatly increased stability and holding
power.
There are many implants available, each designed for a specific
function. Most are made of titanium, an inert metal which has been
proven to be effective at fusing with living bone, a process called
osseointegration. Here the cylindrical or screw type implant, called
"root form", is similar in shape to the root of a tooth with a surface
area designed to promote good attachment to the bone.
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