Your dentist in Lincoln values communication between dental teams and patients. If you’re missing teeth and working to replace them, it can be difficult to make the best decision for your oral health if you don’t understand what your dentist is talking about. Dental implants may be your best option. Learn all about common dental implant terms to better understand how your dentist works to replace your teeth.
Implant
The actual dental implant is a post that’s implanted into the jaw for your complete tooth replacement. This part replaces tooth root that’s critical to maintaining the health of your smile.
Titanium
The implant post that’s surgically placed into your jaw is crafted from titanium. Dental experts use titanium for a few reasons. Few people are allergic to titanium, so it’s rare for a patient to have a reaction to this material. Also, titanium is lightweight but very strong, so it creates natural tooth replacements. It’s also biocompatible, making it easy to bond with the bone.
Abutment
An abutment is a connector that is the bridge between your dental implant post and the actual dental prosthetic that will replace the visual part of your tooth.
Zirconia
A small percentage of people do experience allergies to titanium, so zirconia is another option for the implant material. It’s also white in color, making it a great option to blend among your natural teeth. It’s best to discover the right material for you during a dental appointment with your local professionals.
Crown
A crown, is the visible part of a tooth that resides above the gum line. Dental crowns are crafted form high-quality dental materials to create a natural looing and feeling visual replacement.
Dentures
Dentures are a traditional option that can replace missing teeth. Prosthetic teeth are placed into a gum-colored base to create customized teeth replacements. They can be combined with dental implants for severe tooth loss scenarios.
Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the biologic process that allows a dental implant to fuse with your existing bone. Your dentist will emphasize the part of your healing period because it’s critical to ensuring your dental implant success.
Hopefully, these common terms will help you better understand the dental implant process so that you can hold a productive conversation about replacing your teeth quickly and effectively.
About Our Office
Here at Olberding Dental, we believe every patient deserves a functional smile. Even with more complex cases of tooth loss, we’re prepared to help you from beginning to end.
As your trusted dental team, we want you to understand your personalized treatments and procedures through and through. Feel free to contact us if you ever have any questions or concerns.