Dental implants are artificial tooth roots. They’re firmly anchored in the jaw. Thus, an implant can support a porcelain tooth, a fixed porcelain bridge, or a removable denture. Modern dental implants are made of
titanium, a strong, biocompatible metal.
To begin with, we insert dental implants are into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth root. Then, after a short healing period, the jaw bone attaches to the implant in a process called
osseointegration. That’s when we secure the replacement tooth to the implant. Dental implants are used to replace lost or damaged teeth, eliminating the need for dentures, partials or crowns. Dental implants are, in fact, much like natural teeth, but of higher quality. Decay or a nerve abscess cannot affect them. In addition, implants can prevent bone loss and promote a more youthful face.
On the whole, our success depends on the quantity and quality of existing bone at the time of implantation. Statistics, in fact, show a success rate of 85 – 90% for the upper jaw and the rear part of the lower jaw. And from 95 – 100% for the front part of the lower jaw. These rates are about 10% lower, though, for smokers.
