Restorative Dentistry |3 min read

How Do Dental Implants Work?

A woman being shown a model of a dental implant

Do you have a loose or missing tooth?

Are you considering replacing it with a dental implant?

You may have many questions about everything relating to the procedure.

This blog covers all the details to help you decide that Dr. Rule is your best choice for dental implants.

So let’s get started on your discovery of how dental implants work.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a three-part structure that replaces a cracked, damaged, or missing tooth.

An implant is screwed into the jawbone, which acts like the root, to anchor the artificial tooth, called a crown.

An abutment fits into the implant and holds the crown.

The crown is a custom-made tooth to fit precisely and match the color of your natural teeth.

Crowns are designed to look, feel, and function like natural teeth.

You can learn more about our dental implant services with Dr. Rule by checking our page.

Dental implant vs. a traditional crown

A traditional crown is like a hat that sits on top and bonds to your original tooth.
However, with a dental implant, we remove the original tooth, including the root, and use the implant as a replacement.

What is the structure of a dental implant?

The three parts of a dental implant. Screw, Abutment, and Crown

  • The Crown
  • The Abutment
  • The Screw (post)

We often refer to the screw part of the implant as the post.

We screw the post into the jawbone.

The abutment is connected to the screw and holds the crown in place.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

Implants have several advantages over other dental treatments, such as dentures.

Implants;

  • Feel more natural and comfortable.
  • Have a higher success rate.
  • Improve your chewing function.
  • Lead to a lower risk of cavities developing in nearby teeth.
  • Lead to better maintenance of bone at the site of the lost tooth.

What is the process of a dental implant?

Evaluation

We will evaluate your situation with a comprehensive examination. From this, we will discuss our course of action with you.

Extraction

If the situation calls for it, we will remove any remaining damaged tooth before inserting the screw.

Fitting

Once we know your bone structure, we can drill and screw the post.

Connecting

When your implant is stable enough, we will connect an abutment. This piece connects the implant to your crown.

Adding the crown

After your gums have healed, we can fit your permanent crown, which will have been color matched during your initial discussion.

Rule of thumb!

Dental implants can do more than boost a person’s confidence or give them a bright, beautiful smile.

Dental implants can help preserve and maintain a healthy and youthful appearance. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.

You can download our free ebook about dental implants by Dr. Rule here.

Or:

Rule Dentistry in Gurnee, IL, is honored to serve the areas of Gurnee, Grayslake, Lindenhurst, Wadsworth, Libertyville, Lake Villa, Waukegan, Antioch, Vernon Hills, Winthrop Harbor, and Mundelein.

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published.

*