A dental implant is a surgical fixture that is placed into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone over the span of a few months. The dental implant acts as a replacement for the root of a missing tooth. In turn, this “artificial tooth root” serves to hold a replacement tooth or bridge.
Having a dental implant fused to the jawbone is the closest thing to mimicking a natural tooth because it stands on its own without affecting the nearby teeth and has great stability. The process of fusion between the dental implant and jawbone is called “osseointegration.”
Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth, several teeth, or all of the teeth. Because they fit, feel and function like natural teeth, dental implants are quickly becoming the new standard in tooth replacement.
There are different types of implants like endosteal, transosteal, subperiosteal.
The parts of implants are fixture which engages the bone, abutment which is seen in the oral cavity and supports the prosthesis and the prosthesis in the form of crown, bridge, or denture.
Implants may be placed in single sitting or has multiple sittings depending upon the case. In multiple sittings the implant fixture is placed in the first surgical phase. After the osseointegration has occurred the healing abutment, then the abutment and then the prosthesis is given.
Medical conditions and the bone condition of the patient has to be taken into consideration before placing an implant.