dental Implants And
Bone grafting
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root,
Dental implants are the most effective and longest-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth. At North Fort Worth Oral Surgery, we’ll provide you with durable options for tooth replacement that will help you smile with confidence.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root, usually made of titanium. A complete dental implant has three components:
Implant – a titanium root form that is surgically placed into the jawbone
Abutment – a connector, placed on top the implant root form before a crown is secured to it
Crown – a restoration to replace the visible, white portion of your tooth
One of our oral surgeons will place the implant and the abutment, and your general dentist will place the crown.
Typically, the oral surgeon will evaluate the area for adequate bone with x rays. If there is adequate bone, the implant can be placed. If not, bone grafting is required, and sometimes bone grafting can be done at the same time as implant placement.
Once there is enough bone, implants are placed by drilling the bone to fit the implant. Then a cover screw or healing abutment will be placed, and the implant is allowed to heal and “fuse” with the bone. Typically this is about 3-5 months. Once integrated with the bone, then the general dentist will replace the abutment with the crown, completing the tooth replacement.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOSE A TOOTH?
Besides causing damage to the immediate area, tooth loss affects remaining teeth as well. Teeth create a structure for the face and their loss can shift the surrounding teeth, creating esthetic issues and bite problems. A lost tooth can also affect facial structures such as the jaw, muscles, and jaw joints. If several teeth are lost, it’s not uncommon to have issues with biting and chewing, and some can lead to facial changes.
The bone typically resorbs around the tooth, and if implant is planned in the future, or immediate implant is placed, bone graft is required to allow support of the bone that’ll be the foundation for the implant.
REBUILDING BONE - Bone graft
When the supporting alveolar bone (bone supporting the tooth) melts away after extraction, it is gone for good. However, through grafting, a skilled dental professional can recreate bone to fuse with and support an implant. It is still best to have a consultation soon after extraction, or even with extraction so that dental implants could be planned in an ideal manner.