Dental Implants

What Is A Dental Implant? How Does It Work?

A natural tooth consists of a root and a crown. If you compare real teeth to dental implants, you’ll see they have the same basic parts. Both have a root that holds the tooth securely under the gum and is anchored into the jaw. Both have a crown (the visible part used to chew food). The difference is that the implant is made of titanium – the same well-accepted material used by surgeons for artificial joints. When you loose a tooth, you lose both the root and the crown. To replace the tooth, Dr. Lin first replaces the root with a dental implant.

Time is allowed for bone to heal and grow around the dental implant. A support post (abutment) is then placed on the implant and a new replacement tooth (crown) is placed on top of the abutment.

Dental implants form a strong foundation for teeth and keep the jaw healthy and strong. They can be used to replace individual missing teeth or stabilize dentures in place.

One great advantage of dental implants is that they preserve your natural jaw bone! Generally, people will lose 25% of their supporting jawbone structure within the first year after tooth loss. Bone loss is what gives the face that "sunken in" look after several years of teeth loss. Dental implants can safeguard and preserve your bone structure, oral health and appearance.

Are You A Candidate For Implants?

If you are considering implants, your mouth must be examined thoroughly and your medical and dental history reviewed. If your mouth is not ideal for implants, ways of improving outcome, such as bone grafting, may be recommended.

Do Implants Need Special Care?

Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and having regular check ups.