Closing an Unattractive Gap between Your Two Front Teeth

One dental procedure that can be used to fix a missing tooth is a dental implant. However, there are a lot of things that you likely do not know about it. Here are 5 facts about implants that help you appreciate this modern marvel of dentistry.

A Dental Implant Post Is Made With Titanium

While your dentist may say that they will be putting a post made of metal into your jawbone for a dental implant, that post is actually made of titanium specifically. It's best to use titanium because the metal is known to fuse with the jawbone much better than other metals, making it an ideal choice for the procedure.

A Dental Implant Has Multiple Parts

If you thought that the dental implant secured to your jawbone is one solid piece, you would be wrong. That implant actually includes three separate parts, which include the titanium post, the abutment, and the dental crown. This allows a dentist to fix a dental implant if necessary and prevent the need to remove the entire implant that has fused with the jawbone.

A Dental Implant Post Actually Has A Threaded End

While the titanium used in a dental implant is often referred to as the post, it is actually a screw. There is a threaded piece of the post that is exposed, which allows the abutment to easily become attached to it. The abutment will not be held in place with dental cement since the screw is enough to keep it in place.

A Dental Implant Won't Decay

The nice thing about having a dental implant is that you do not need to worry about any of the parts suffering from decay. The crown placed on the post will never require a cavity filling or a cosmetic procedure performed on it and will have the potential to last forever. That said, brushing and flossing are still a necessary part when you have a dental implant. While the tooth won't decay, there can be issues where the gums become infected with a disease and cause the implant to fail.

A Dental Implant May Require A Bone Graft

If your dentist thinks you are not a great candidate for a dental implant based on the health of your jawbone, it's possible to strengthen the jawbone with a bone graft. This involves taking an artificial bone or part of another bone in your body and placing it onto your jawbone where the dental implant will go. The bone graft makes it possible for a dental implant to be placed in an area where it would normally have trouble integrating.

For more information, contact a local clinic like Milner Dentistry.