Did you know that dental implants are not actually a single dental restoration, but rather a restoration comprised of three separate parts? Looking at a dental implant in a patient’s mouth, you might never know that it takes multiple pieces to create a replacement tooth, but each of these parts is very important to the functionality of the dental implant. To give you a better idea of how dental implants are constructed, our Saint Louis dental implant dentists have written up this brief explanation.
The only part of the dental implant that shows above the gum tissue is the dental restoration. This is the part of the dental implant that is made to look like a natural tooth. It is also the part of the restoration that allows you to chew and speak naturally. Many patients consider the restoration the most important part of the dental implant, because it restores the appearance of their smiles. However, there are two equally important components that allow the restoration to shine.
1. The dental root
The dental root is made of titanium—it looks like a small screw. In the first phase of dental implant treatment, the implant root is inserted into the patient’s jawbone. Then the rest of the dental implant is build on top of the root. The root is what holds the entire implant in place—without it, your implant wouldn’t be able to look or function like a natural tooth.
2. The abutment
This piece is the “go between” for the root and the restoration. Not only does the abutment hold these two pieces together, it also allows for a limited amount of “give” or flexibility between the root and the restoration. Without the abutment, your whole replacement tooth would simply snap apart when you chew.
Each part of the dental implant enhances the effectiveness and the appearance of the replacement tooth. If you are interested in learning more about how dental implants work, our Saint Louis dental implant dentists are here for you. We look forward to speaking with you!