Dental Implants In Tooth Replacement Applications

Dental implants can be used in conjunction with multiple restorative dental services to replace lost teeth. Some people believe that a dental implant alone can replace a lost tooth. However, dental implants are prosthetic dental roots. Thus, they do not replace the crowns of the lost teeth.

Still, dental implant-based restorations offer greater stability than other types of restorative procedures. A dental implant does not sit at the gumline. Instead, it rests securely in the bone of the jaw. 

After a dental implant is installed in the jawbone, the implant and the bone integrate or connect. The connection keeps the dental implant firmly in position, making the implant a suitable base for appliances that restore the crowns of lost teeth. 

Here are a few appliances that are often stabilized by dental implants.

All-on-fours

All-on-fours are appliances that are frequently used to replace a full palate of teeth. These devices, which are false teeth connected to a base, rest on four dental implants that are strategically situated in the mouth. All-on-four appliances are connected to the dental implants by screws.

The screws must be inserted and removed by a dentist, so the appliance is not removable. Instead, a patient with all-on-fours enjoys the convenience of a tooth-replacement device that remains in the mouth at all times, just as the natural teeth once did.

Implant-supported Dentures

Dental implants can also be used to support removable dentures. The dentures contain mechanisms on their underside to connect to the implants and release from them as needed. The release is usually performed to allow the dentures to be thoroughly cleaned. 

In the past, a traditional denture was the primary option for a person who had lost a full palate of teeth. However, the denture could slip as the patient chewed, or in some cases, as the patient simply spoke. Thus, many denture wearers desired a more stable tooth-replacement option.  

Implant-supported Bridges

Bridges are often used to replace one or more missing teeth. The bridge is held in the mouth by the appliance's connection to the abutment teeth or to dental implants. 

The bridge contains dental crowns that fit over the abutment teeth or implants to stabilize the appliance and make it a permanent fixture in the mouth. Before the bridge is connected to the implants, abutments or connectors are added to the implants. 

For more information about the use of dental implants in tooth-replacement applications, schedule an appointment with a dentist office like Cape Dental Care in your local area.