Basic Principles of Michigan Dental Implants

Understanding the basic principles of Implant Dentistry can make your decision about whether or not a Dental Implant is right for you much simpler. A well informed patient will know how to ask the right questions and better make an informed decision.

General Considerations:

• An implant is a man-made replacement for a tooth root.


• Because of their very unique design, they become securely attached to the jawbone through a process called osseointegration.


• After a waiting period that allows the bone to heal around the implant, final restorations are screwed or cemented onto the implant or implant component.


• The final restoration is made utilizing procedures that are very similar to traditional crown and bridge dentistry.


• With Michigan Dental Implants, it is possible to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or an entire arch of teeth.


• For patients who are faced with losing all of their teeth, implant dentistry provides a tooth-replacement option that is much more stable and permanent than removable dentures or partials.

Implant Composition

• Implants are constructed from titanium.


• Titanium is a lightweight, soft, noncorroding metal.


• The surface of the titanium forms a natural ceramic coating when exposed to oxygen which enables bones cells to attach to it.


• Since bone cells react better to titanium surfaces that are rough, most implants are put through a roughening process by the manufacturer.


• To enhance bone healing, implants are sometimes coated with hydroxyapatite.


• Implants are often threaded. In order to enhance implant placement and stability, thread shape and pitch are carefully calculated to help transfer biting force to the surrounding bone.

Osseointegration

• Osseointegration describes the attachment of bone to the surface of an implant.


• Observation of an osseointegrated implant under a microscope reveals that bone attaches to the implant surface, but not in a continuous fashion. There are areas of direct contact separated by marrow spaces; therefore, only 40%-50% of the implant is in contact with bone.


• Surface treatment, such as a hydroxyapatite coating, work to increase the bone/implant contact.


• Under clinical observation, an osseointegrated implant will feel solid with no present mobility.


• When an implant fails to osseointegrate, slight mobility is noted. In such cases the bone surface is separated from the implant surface by a thin fibrous membrane which may be visible with careful x-ray analysis.


• A waiting period is required for successful osseointegration to occur because a complex series of events must occur.
  

For more information about Michigan Dental Implants visit the Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS & Associates website and submit your question online. The American Academy of Periodontology is also a helpful resource when deciding if you are a candidate for dental implants. Visit them on the web at http://www.perio.org/. Call (248) 357-3100 to schedule an appointment with our Dental Implant Specialist.