Missing teeth can have a major impact on a person’s appearance, ability to chew, and overall health. The purpose of a dental implant is to replace any missing teeth in the mouth. Most people who have lost teeth can have successful implants.
Think of dental implants as artificial tooth roots, similar in shape to screws.
The dental implants consist of two major parts: an artificial tooth above the gums, and an underlying permanent anchor place in the jawbone. The tooth attaches to the implant – which gives you a complete tooth.
The process of dental implantation involves careful assessment by the dentist to determine whether the dental implant is the best course of treatment.
The assessment includes a thorough dental history and examination and medical history, X-rays, and other imaging methods, such as computerized tomography (CT scan) to assess the bone, and the other underlying structures.
The anchor for a dental implant must be surgically placed, which involves an incision in the gum tissue. The incision is made in the gum tissue and space is created in the bone for the implant. The implant is then placed in the bone and allowed to heal for 3 to 6 months. This allows the bone tissue to grow on and around the implant attaching it tightly to the jawbone. This process is called osseointegration. The placement of the implant normally takes no longer than about one hour.
Today most insurance companies cover all or part of the expense of having a dental implant placed.