What Is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are a treatment option used to replace teeth missing from the mouth. Implant treatment may be performed by a general dentist, periodontist, oral surgeon or oral maxillofacial surgeon.
A dental implant can be thought of as an artificial tooth root that looks like a metal screw. The implant is put into the jawbone where the tooth was originally located. Over time, the jawbone that surrounds the implant grows around it to hold the screw securely in place. This takes approximately three months.
An artificial tooth, known as an implant crown, is attached to the dental implant screw to fill the space in the mouth left by the missing tooth. The implant crown is made to match the surrounding teeth in both shape and colour. This treatment is generally completed three months after the screw has been placed to allow time for healing.
Dental implants are used to replace one or more missing teeth within the mouth.
Written by The Australian Dental Association
