Abutment Definition
A dental implant is a healthy and beautiful way to restore your smile if you were missing one or more teeth. A dental implant is constructed of a titanium post which is the actual implant that acts as the root of a tooth. On top of the implant, and abutment is placed and is the piece that holds your implant crown in place. Dental implants can be used for a dental bridge as well as an individual tooth. If you are missing a large number of teeth or have to have them extracted, implants can also be used on an implant-supported denture.
Implants are the best choice if you are healthy and have the required bone and gum structure to support the implant.
How are dental implants placed?
An oral surgeon will screw a titanium implant into your jawbone below the gum surface. The implant helps encourage bone regeneration and helps keep your jaw healthy whereas other options, such as a bridge or traditional denture, keep all of the restorations above the gumline and can eventually permit bone deterioration. If you do not have the necessary bone structure, your oral surgeon may elect to perform a bone graft before your implant is placed. This ensures that there is enough structure to keep the implant secure. The implant is allowed to heal and integrate with the bone for about six months before the rest of the restoration is placed.
Once your implant is fully integrated and healed, your dentist will place the abutment onto the implant which is the connecting element that holds the implant crown in your mouth. The abutment is custom-made at a dental lab and is fabricated using titanium, stainless steel, gold, or zirconia.
The implant crown is then either screwed or cemented onto the abutment. The implant crown will match the rest of your teeth in size and color to look as natural as possible. The crown can be made from the zirconia, porcelain, or ceramic.
How do I care for my implant?
Your oral hygiene routine should not change with an implant. Flossing and brushing regularly helps keep the tissue and neighboring teeth around the implant healthy. Dental decay can lead to tissue and even bone damage that can negatively impact your implant so it is important that you maintain or even improve your regular routine.
During your regular dental cleanings, your hygienist will make sure that the implant is clean and healthy and once a year, will take an x-ray which will be shared with your oral surgeon to make sure the implant is stable and healthy. X-rays are very important especially for patients with implants or periodontal disease since they allow your dentist to see the underlying jaw structure that they otherwise would not be able to examine. A lot of patients do not like having x-rays taken very often but the radiation exposure for dental x-rays is minimal so, for your health, it is crucial that you allow these x-rays to be taken.