What is a Dental Implant?

Posted on 10/19/2020 by Pacific Oral and Facial Surgery Center

Dental implants have been an option for dental care for thousands of years, the first known instance occurring around 600 A.D., when pieces of shell were hammered into her jawbone. Thankfully, dental implant procedures have come a long way. We no longer use pieces of shell for dental implants. Now they are made of titanium and placed with surgical precision.

This is a common procedure done to over 500,000 people every year. There are currently over three million people with dental implants in the United States alone.

Patients can think of dental implants as replacements for their own natural tooth roots. Just like roots, dental implants can act as an anchor for different kinds of dental appliances. It is screwed into the jawbone so for all intents and purposes, it is a permanent part of the patient's mouth. Crowns or dentures and bridges or facial prosthesis can be anchored to the dental implant.

What are the Different parts of an Implant?

They are made of a fixture, an abutment and a crown. The fixture is the bottom of the implant and the first to be installed. This is the part attached to the jawbone. The abutment is what sits on the gumline after being screwed into the fixture. These are not put into place until the fixture has properly fused with the jawbone. The crown replaces the missing tooth and acts like an artificial one.

Are there Different Types?

There are two kinds of dental implants. Depending upon the patient's circumstances, one may be recommended over another. An endosteal implant is made of titanium and look like tiny screws. These are placed directly into the jawbone. The other kind of implant is known as a subperiosteal implant. This type is put on the jawbone but beneath the gum tissue.

Patients typically have questions regarding which type of implant would best fit their situation. For answers to those questions, please contact our office today!

Board certified in Oral & Maxillofacial surgery

The surgical specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery requires up to six additional years of hospital based surgical and anesthesia training beyond dental school.

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1133 E. Stanley Blvd. #215 • Livermore, CA 94550
Phone: 925-290-7727 Fax: 925-294-8800
Email: info@pacificofs.com

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Phone: 209-835-4600 • Fax: 209-835-8833
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Dental Blog | Livermore & Tracy CA | Michael Beckley DDS
For more information on oral surgery, and to schedule your consultation, call Pacific Oral & Facial Surgery Center in Livermore and Tracy today.
Pacific Oral and Facial Surgery Center, 1133 E Stanley Blvd #215, Livermore, CA 94550 • 925-290-7727 • pacificofs.com • 3/15/2025 • Associated Words: oral surgeon Livermore •