A little over two decades ago, when dental implants first came into use in the oral healthcare industry, they were primarily seen as a viable option for restoring a single lost tooth. As time has gone on dental implant technology, techniques and training has advanced so they can now be used in multiple applications to restore missing teeth and improve the function of your mouth.
If you have lost two or three teeth in one area of your mouth, dental implants can be used to mount a bridge. If you have dentures on your top, bottom or both parts of your mouth, dental implants can be used to create anchor points to secure your dentures in place.
While the applications and uses for dental implants might vary, they all share some core similarities. The implant itself is actually made of titanium, which is known to be biologically safe. In fact, titanium will eventually fuse to bone structures in a process known as osseointegration.
The implant itself is screwed directly into your jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone itself. This does take time to heal. This creates a small post known as an abutment. Once the abutment is secured in your jaw bone, we can then mount the appropriate dental work. At this point the procedures all follow the same treatment strategy used to mount a crown or a bridge like we would on an abutment formed by your natural teeth.
If you have questions about the best way to restore one or more lost teeth, please call Johnson Ranch Dental at 916-784-1700 to schedule an appointment.