What do Dental Implants do?
Dental implants are artificial tooth substitutes. They are not the same as teeth but can, when restored, undertake many of the functions of teeth. Implants are surgically placed into the jaw-bone and fuse to it. In some cases, it may not be possible to place an implant if there is insufficient bone. Part of the implant will come through the gum and can then be restored either with a crown or as part of a larger restoration that may replace multiple teeth. Implants can also be used to support a removable denture. Because the implant is fixed to the bone, it does not have the same small degree of movement or sensation that a natural tooth has. As some of the supporting structures for teeth are lost, when a tooth is extracted, it is critical that the implant be kept very clean with good homecare. It is possible for implants to lose bone and support in a manner like periodontitis (gum disease); this is particularly the case in people who have already had periodontitis.