Dental implants are a remarkable tooth replacement option. If you are thinking about getting them to rebuild your smile, you have every reason to be excited! However, the implant process can be a little complex. During your consultation, your dentist or oral surgeon might use some words that you are not familiar with. Here are some terms that you should know in order to understand your treatment:
Abutment
Most dental implants are composed of three pieces: the implant itself (the artificial tooth root), the restoration (the prosthetic tooth or teeth), and the abutment, a small connector piece that serves to attach the implant to its restoration.
All-on-4
All-on-4 is a special type of dental implant treatment. It involves placing four dental implants at strategic locations in the jawbone to support a full implant denture. The treatment process is designed to be as fast as possible.
Bridge
Traditional dental bridges are supported by natural teeth. An implant bridge is different. It has an implant on each end, which support crowns. One or more artificial teeth span the gap between the implants.
You might also hear about a “full bridge,” which is basically an implant denture that replaces an entire arch of missing teeth. It can require four or more implants to support it.
Ceramic/Porcelain
The restorations that get attached to dental implants are usually made out of porcelain, which is a type of ceramic. Its appearance is almost indistinguishable from that of natural teeth.
Crown
Typically, dental crowns are defined as tooth-shaped caps that cover a natural tooth. A dental implant crown, in contrast, gets attached to an implant in order to replace a single missing tooth.
Dentures
A denture can replace all of the upper or lower teeth. Implant dentures can be removable, but they can also be permanently attached to the implants that support them.
Implant
The word “implant” may be used in a few different ways. Technically, a dental implant is a small cylinder that gets placed in the jawbone and acts as a prosthetic tooth root. However, the word may also be used to refer to the totality of an implant, its abutment, and its restoration.
Mini Dental Implants
Mini dental implants are the same length as traditional ones, but they have a smaller diameter. They are sometimes used in patients who have lost some bone mass in their jaw.
Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the biological process that occurs after dental implants are placed in the jawbone. Basically, the bone fuses with the implants, allowing them to provide a strong base for artificial teeth.
Teeth in an Hour
Teeth in an Hour is similar to All-on-4 treatment. Both procedures are a streamlined method for replacing a full arch of lost teeth.
Titanium
Most dental implants are made of titanium alloy, which is mostly titanium but may have small amounts of other materials. Medical-grade titanium is considered to be biocompatible, meaning that it works well within the human body.
Meet the Practice
At Piney Point Dental Implant Center, our three oral surgeons work together to provide top-quality care for each patient. Our team wants you to feel well-informed about your treatment, so you are always free to ask questions if we use words or terms that you do not understand. To learn more about us and how we may be able to serve you, contact our Houston office at 713-597-7340.