The implants are small titanium cylinders that are surgically placed in the missing teeth position. They act as root substitutes. Small protrusions are attached to the implants so that the teeth can be fixed firmly on them.

The implants still help maintain the facial structure by preventing bone resorption that occurs when the teeth are missing.

The dental implant is designed to replace a tooth and consists of 3 parts:

• The implant is made of titanium and integrated with the bone
• The abutment which is the part of the implant located above the gum to support the hoop.
• The crown is the “artificial tooth” created by the dentist or specialist prosthesis and attached to the bracket, giving the tooth a natural appearance.

Many patients who lose a tooth choose to place a permanent restoration (bridges), which require at least two healthy adjacent teeth to be repaired. Besides, there is the potential cost of future bridge rehabilitation more than once.

The same is true with partial dentures. Studies show that there is a 30% chance of a neighboring tooth on a bridge or partial denture in the next five years.

Also, whole dentures contribute to the loss of bone. The bone in the jaws is divided by the presence of the tooth. If a sufficient amount of bone is missing, it is necessary for the maxillofacial surgeon to place a bone graft to retain an implant. The implant integrates with the bone and acts like the natural tooth.

If more than one tooth is missing right now, your maxillofacial surgeon may place more than one implant.

Dental implants have a success rate of about 95% and after 50 years of clinical research and implementation are the best option for restoring lost teeth.

Implants are a collective effort made by the maxillofacial surgeon and dentist. Tooth extractions and bone grafting (if needed), as well as surgical implant placement are performed by a specialized maxillofacial surgeon while permanent and temporary (if needed) prosthetic work is done by the dentist. If your dentist does not deal with implant prosthetics, the clinic will work with specialist prosthodontists to undertake prosthetic rehabilitation for the best possible outcome.