Dental Implant Placement and Restorations: What’s the Difference?

Many individuals choose to undergo dental implant treatment to replace teeth that have been removed for various reasons. Whether from advanced decay, severe periodontal complications, injury, or trauma, these people choose implants as a reliable alternative to traditional tooth replacement prosthetics.

Surely when looking into dental implant treatment, you most likely have heard about their placement and restoration. But, what is the difference between these two processes?

Below we will discuss the answer in greater detail.

What Exactly is a Dental Implant?

Dental implants are biocompatible (body-safe) titanium posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath gums and are accepted by the body. Because of their ability to naturally fuse with living bone and tissue in a process called osseointegration, dental implants are one of the most successful and reliable solutions for replacing missing teeth.

These posts also provide essential stimulation for preserving a healthy jawbone and offer a secure foundation for artificial teeth (restorations) to be permanently affixed. 

Dental Implant Placement

Dental implant surgery is typically performed in stages; these may include:

• The removal of a severely damaged or infected tooth.
• Your dental professional will determine if you have enough jawbone volume for surgery. If your jawbone is in good health but requires more density, a bone-grafting procedure may be required before implant placement.
• After making an opening, your oral surgeon will insert the titanium posts into your jawbone.
• The abutment is placed. This is an extension of the metal implant post. In some cases, when the implant is strong and stable, this can be done at the same time the implant is placed.
• After the bone and soft-tissue are healed, your dental professional will make a mold of your teeth and jawbone to create the restoration, which will be placed later.

The entire process can take many months from start to finish. Much of this time is devoted to proper healing time and waiting for osseointegration to finish.

Implant-Supported Restorations (Prosthetics)

The final step in dental implant treatment is the placement of the implant restorations. These are custom-crafted dental prosthetic appliances permanently affixed to your dental implant post or posts. These tooth replacement prosthetics are typically fabricated from reliable enamel-colored materials, allowing completely natural, discreet results.

Common implant-supported restorations include:

Crowns- for single-tooth replacement, crown restorations are the most popular, viable option. These prosthetics are custom-made to mimic a natural tooth.

Bridges- when several teeth are missing in a row, dental bridge appliances are often chosen to help literally “bridge” the gap between missing and remaining teeth.

Dentures- for individuals missing almost, or if not, all of their teeth in a smile, implant-supported dentures are an ideal, secure option. These appliances can replace an entire detention and are securely fastened by implants, so there is no need for messy adhesives or the worry of your dentures slipping or becoming dislodged.

If you or a loved one are in need of dental implant treatment, contact Dr. Snehal Patel and his expert team at Lorton Springfield Dental Implant & Oral Surgery today!