Dental Implant
What Is It: A device used to function in place of the tooth root. Different materials can be used to fabricate dental implants, but titanium is still the most common material used.
Procedure Description: An osteotomy or core is removed from the bone that will accept a dental implant. Implants can be placed at the time of tooth removal, utilizing the remaining tooth socket to engage a dental implant. Often times, a bone supplement or graft is used to fill in the space between the implant and the bone.
Why You Would Need It: To place a crown, which replaces a tooth that has been too damaged and removed, you first need the dental implant structure to hold the crown in place.
Dental Implant Crown
What Is It: A crown is placed over an implant abutment, which is designed to assume the role of a natural crown.
Procedure Description: Once an implant integrates in the jaw bone, an impression is made to transfer the position of that implant in the jaw to a cast, onto which a lab technician can create a dental implant crown. The crown is luted onto an abutment and both pieces are simultaneously tightened into the implant.
Why You Would Need It: When a tooth needs to be removed due to too much damage, a root substitute (implant) and a crown can replace it.
Dental Bridge
What Is It: A bridge or fixed partial denture is a prosthetic appliance, permanently attached to remaining teeth, that replaces one or more missing teeth.
Procedure Description: A dental bridge can span a gap between teeth where spaces exist due to tooth loss or congenitally missing teeth. Using the teeth adjacent to the space, the bridge is luted onto ‘abutment’ teeth and serves to fill space, prevent teeth drifting and offer more chewing surfaces.
Why You Would Need It: If you have teeth removed due to damage and choose to place a dental bridge to restore function in the mouth.