Dental Implants…What are they?

Implants are artificial tooth roots made of titanium. These anchors act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for porcelain teeth or they can strengthen your denture.

Small posts called “abutments” are then attached to the implants, which protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable support for replacement teeth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth. Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration, which occurs when teeth are missing.

Dental implants are nothing new. They were invented in 1965 in Sweden. They entered the U.S. in the early 1980’s. In the last 10-15 years, significant advances have propelled implants into the spotlight. When done correctly, they have a very high success rate. In fact, my own success rate with this procedure is 99.6%.