Robina Dental implants are a great way to replace teeth that have been lost or have had to be extracted. They are a permanent solution for replacing missing or broken teeth, and they can help restore your smile and your confidence as well.
How a Dental Implant Works
A dental implant is a metal post that is placed in the jaw bone beneath a missing tooth. The implant acts as the root of the replacement tooth or teeth, and it also helps preserve your jaw bone by preventing resorption (the process where the bone in the empty spaces in your mouth deteriorates).
This process is called osseointegration. Once it has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post – called an abutment – is attached to securely hold the replacement tooth or teeth.
There are two main types of dental implants – endosteal and subperiosteal. The endosteal type is the most common, and it’s the preferred method for most patients because it’s a direct replacement of the missing tooth root.
The titanium used for this type of implant is biocompatible, meaning that it won’t irritate the gums or cause rejection by the body. It’s also a very strong material that fuses to the jaw bone very quickly.
Zirconia is another alternative for implants and is a metal-free option. This material is also stronger than titanium, allowing it to fuse to the bone very quickly and efficiently.
When the bone is not sufficient to support an implant, a procedure called bone grafting can be performed. This is a relatively simple procedure that involves taking a piece of bone from another part of the body to fill in the empty space.
How a Dental Implant Looks
Once the osseointegration period is completed, the metal post is then covered by an abutment that is made from porcelain to match the color of your natural teeth. This abutment is what holds the new tooth or teeth in place, and it can be attached to a dental crown or even a removable denture.
This procedure allows you to replace a single tooth, several missing teeth, or all of your teeth in one sitting. This is a good option for people who have a lot of missing teeth in their upper and lower jaws.
Often, an implant is the only solution for patients who have several missing teeth in different areas of the mouth. These patients often have a hard time chewing and can feel uncomfortable with dentures.
A dental bridge is another option for replacing a row of missing teeth. This is usually recommended for patients with a few missing teeth, and it typically requires altering the shape of the surrounding teeth to accommodate the artificial tooth. It’s not as effective as implants at restoring your smile, and it can be more expensive.
The All-on-4 Implant is an alternative for patients who have a row of missing teeth in both the top and bottom of their mouth. An All-on-4 implant consists of 4 dental implants in each jaw, which then act as anchors for a dental bridge. This procedure can be done in just a few appointments, and it’s much less expensive than other options for replacing multiple teeth.