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What Are Dental Implants?

When searching around for solutions for lost teeth, you may have heard of bridges, dentures, and dental implants. While dentures and bridges are well-known procedures, you may be wondering, what are dental implants? It’s an innovative dental process that comes with a multitude of benefits. Today we’ll go over a brief introduction of dental implants and how they differ from dentures or bridges.

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Dental Implant 101

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots placed below the gumline. They provide a permanent and sturdy base for artificial teeth. While dentures and crowns eventually have to be replaced, implants can last a lifetime with proper care. They’re becoming the gold standard in tooth replacement because they feel, look, and function just like natural teeth.

They operate so well because the implant material is made of titanium, which is biocompatible for most people. The material fuses to the bone in your jaw and creates a secure fit with no gap between the bone and implant. Unlike dentures, they won’t slip or move around, and there’s no problem chewing food. You won’t need to regularly repair them, remove them at night, or worry about people noticing them. When talking at a close distance, even a dentist may not be able to tell that you have an implant.

Dental Implant Anatomy

While it appears that the implant is just one full tooth-sized piece, it actually consists of three different parts.

  1. The titanium implant: This is the small part inserted into the jaw that acts as the artificial tooth’s root.
  2. The abutment: This is a connector piece that securely fastens the artificial tooth to the implant. While it is permanent, your dentist can easily remove it if necessary.
  3. The artificial tooth (crown): This is the visible part that looks like your natural teeth. This artificial tooth is securely fastened to the abutment and designed to blend right in with the surrounding teeth.

California Dental Care

Dental implants are a fitting solution for replacing single or multiple teeth. They’ve become the preferred choice for tooth replacement and are trusted by millions of people in the U.S. every year. While this is only a brief overall introduction, we hope we answered the question, “what are dental implants?” If you’d like to learn more about this procedure, you can give us a call. We’re always happy to help! Our phone number is (707) 741-6090, or you can click here to contact us on our website.