A dental implant is a type of restoration used to replace a missing tooth. The implant itself is a titanium post that serves as an artificial tooth root. It also has a crown and a connector called an abutment.
What Does the Process of Getting an Implant Involve?
The first step of dental implant services in Oklahoma City, OK, is to place the implant into the jawbone. During a months-long process called osseointegration, the implant will fuse with the jawbone so that it is as stable and secure as a natural tooth.
The dentist will then take an impression of the patient’s teeth and have a crown custom-made to match the patient’s natural teeth. During another appointment, they will place the crown on the implant.
Why Should Someone Get an Implant?
Replacing a lost tooth prevents bone loss in that part of the jaw. A tooth’s roots help support the jaw, and if a tooth is missing, the jawbone around it can become thinner and weaker. Replacing a lost tooth also keeps the other teeth from moving out of their correct positions.
What Is a Hybrid Denture?
A hybrid denture is one that is held in place by dental implants. The dentist will generally use four or six implants to secure the denture. Hybrid dentures are thus sometimes called “All-on-4” or “All-on-6” dentures. Hybrid dentures remain firmly in place, so the patient can eat with confidence.
Contact Grady L. Lembke DDS to learn more about dental implant services in Oklahoma City, OK.
