Dental Implants-artificial tooth root replacements supporting dental prosthesis

04-Apr-2007

Dental Implants

A Dental Implant is an artificial tooth root replacement. They are lightweight, metal devices surgically embedded in the gums or in the bone to which replacement teeth are attached. Implants can provide support for improved appearance, speech, comfort, and chewing ability. On top of the implants, dentures can be placed. It can also easily support partial dentures or bridges. The Dentures can be removed to be cleaned, but inside the mouth it remains firmly fixed.

Multiple implants can be placed in the upper and lower jaws and a fixed prosthesis can be given. Implants can also be used to stabilize the dentures so they are more comfortable to wear. This is very effective for people who have been wearing dentures for an extensive period of time and whose jaws have shrunk to the point where the dentures are very loose. Dental implants are actually the threaded metal cylinders that serve as the roots of missing teeth. The implant, sometimes called a post or cylinder, is surgically implanted in the jawbone beneath the gum tissue.