What Is It?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth made up of the same parts as a natural tooth: a root (which serves as anchorage in the jaw) and a crown (the visible part of the tooth used to chew food and give a harmonious smile).
The difference between an implant and a natural tooth is that the root of the implant is a titanium screw (biocompatible material also used in orthopedic surgery for hip or knee prostheses, for example) and the crown is custom manufactured by a dental laboratory to match the other teeth of each patient perfectly (color, shape, position).
When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and crown of the tooth.
To replace it with a dental implant, the surgeon must first replace the root with a dental implant (small titanium screw 6 to 12mm long) inserted in the bone below the level of the gum.
A period of healing is observed in order to allow the bone to heal and allow the implant to attach to the jaw (this is called osseointegration).
During this period, a metal healing cap placed on the implant may be visible, or an artificial resin tooth can be made if the missing tooth is in an aesthetically sensitive area.
When the implant is properly osseointegrated, the surgeon performs a test to ensure that the structure is ready to be loaded, i.e. the ceramic crown can then be prepared by the laboratory to be placed on the implant and serve to chew as all other natural teeth.
The placement of an implant is a team effort between a maxillofacial surgeon and your dentist. Dr. Nathalie Portier-Marret is responsible for the surgery concerning the implant placement, any preliminary extractions as well as bone grafts if necessary.
Your Dentist will take care of the impression and place the final crown and make a temporary tooth during the healing period after implant surgery.
