26 Feb How Dental Implants Have Revolutionized Tooth Loss
Dental implants have changed the way we treat tooth loss. These revolutionary prosthetics provide a viable solution for the loss of a tooth’s root, which has been overlooked by conventional prosthetics until the discovery of osseointegration (the process of bone fusing to titanium implants). Not only do dental implants address the loss of total tooth structure, they last for decades and support the entire oral health system.
In the past, people from ancient societies tried to replace the roots of teeth with materials such as sea shells and bone. While the people of older civilizations knew the importance replacing the root structure of teeth, they did not have the technology or medical knowledge to produce a suitable replacement for a tooth’s root.
In the 1960s, researchers learned that the metal titanium was biocompatible with the body. This discovery was paramount to developing titanium implants that are now used for replacing mineralized tissue in the hips, knees, spine, and teeth. Since titanium is a biocompatible metal, which means that it won’t be rejected by the body as a foreign object, osseointegration is possible.
How Dental Implants Work
Now that the science and evidence exists to back the efficacy and durability of dental implants, they have been widely available to the public for some time. The process for receiving a dental implant involves a consultation with a dental professional such as an oral surgeon and the procedure to embed the implant itself, which comes once a patient has been approved for this treatment protocol and his or her treatment plan has been developed.
Placing a dental implant involves loading it into the jawbone through the empty tooth socket. Patients then enter a recovery phase of treatment that will give the bone around the implant time to stabilize. Once the implant is stable, patients will receive their permanent restoration (usually a dental crown or bridge), which is attached to an abutment on the implant.
If you have lost teeth and want to review your tooth replacement options, we recommend considering dental implants because of their longevity and durability.
Call us today at Commonwealth Oral & Facial Surgery to reserve an appointment.