The structure of a dental implant consists of the body, tip and neck – these are the main elements. The gum shaper and abutment are also components. They are not installed at once, but gradually one after another. It takes months for one or another element to take root.
What to pay attention to? There are the following types of implants: classical, basal, zygomatic. To install any variant without consequences and rejection, it is important to know about their features and be guided by the recommendations of the attending physician.
Purpose of a dental implant
Implant is an element of the device, which is used in the restoration of a missing tooth. Functionally, it fulfills the role of a tooth root. The patient receives a full-fledged artificial tooth, which is very strong and does not differ from the real one in its appearance.
An implant can replace a single tooth or a whole row of teeth. A more reliable option is screwing in screws where teeth are missing. However, in some cases this method is not possible.
In such cases, several supports are attached to the jawbone, and to them a fixed structure is installed, which resembles a bridge prosthesis. There are also removable implant-supported dentures.
The construction of a dental implant
It consists of 3 main elements:
- The body is the main part of the artificial tooth root, which is implanted into the bone tissue of the jaw. Since most modern implants have a screw shape, their body has the form of an oblong rod with a pointed end and threads along its entire length. Through it the pin is screwed into the bone like a self-tapping screw, providing a high degree of fixation and primary stability. As a result, osseointegration occurs – the body takes root in the bone.
- The apex is the narrowest part of the implant, which has a pronounced thread and corresponds to the root tip of the tooth root.
- The neck is the upper, outer part of the implant. It is attached to it with a gum shaper and then an abutment with a crown. In many cases, microthreading is added to the neck to distribute the chewing load evenly on the jaw and prevent bone loss.
Implants are used together with cover screws. They are placed on the neck and are necessary to provide a hermetic protection for the implanted posts and to prevent infections and other risks. After osseointegration, the plug is removed and replaced with another supragingival component.
Gum shaper
This is placed in place of the cover screw after the artificial tooth root has been successfully implanted. It is used to create a natural contour of the gum at the implant site so that the denture looks natural and aesthetic.
Abutment
The intermediate element between the implant and the crown/denture and is placed above the gum line. After its contour is formed, the special element used for this purpose is removed and the abutment is fixed in its place. It is made of the same metal as the post – titanium and titanium-based alloys, it can be made of ceramic or zirconium dioxide.
In one-stage and one-stage implant placement, no gum shaper or plug is used. In such cases, an abutment is placed immediately and temporary dentures are placed on it.
Features of the structure of different types of implants
In modern dentistry, the following types of implant structures are common: single and double implants.
They consist of the same elements, only bipartite implants have a collapsible design, and single-unit implants have a monolithic design, where the body and abutment are not separated.
Single-unit implant systems are used in single-stage and one-stage protocols, while bi-unit systems are the most versatile and are used in all implant placement techniques.
In addition to standard implants, mini-implants are available. They contain the same components as the first, but differ only in size: they are only a few millimeters long.
Brickell Dental Care offers patients comprehensive implant services. Our specialists perform diagnostics, select the optimal method, and restore lost teeth comfortably and safely. In the process, the doctor will tell you in detail about the stages of treatment and explain the necessity of each action, so that you feel calm and confident. To get an appointment at the clinic, make an appointment by calling (407) 863 6487 or online at the website. We will call you back to arrange a date and time for your visit.