A dental implant is one treatment method to replace missing teeth, especially in instances where there is a need to replace a single missing tooth.
This method may help avoid removing sound tooth structure, crowning two or more teeth, and splinting teeth together with pontics- which may make oral hygiene more difficult and increase plaque retention. Dental implants can however be used when looking to replace multiple teeth as well.
The engineering design of most dental implants is a titanium fixture that is placed by a surgeon in the jaw bone and allowed to heal. After a period of healing, the implant is tested for osseointegration- the implant is anchored in the bone. After this process is completed, the dentist works in conjunction with a dental lab to make a crown which then becomes anchored to the implant.
