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In the following sections, you may have to scroll sideways to view all the pictures. The pictures are numbered to indicate the sequence.
What is a dental implant?
A natural tooth consists of a crown, and a root. The crown is that part of the tooth which can be seen above the gum tissue. The root is hidden under the gum tissue, and within the bone. It is the root which secures the natural tooth to the jawbone.
In order to replace a missing tooth, your doctor must re-create the crown portion, and choose the best method for affixing it within the mouth. Dental implants were developed for this purpose.
Dental Implants are artificial devices used by dentists to replace missing teeth. Implants come in many different sizes and shapes. Implants which rest on top of the bone are called subperiosteal implants. There are also very narrow implants which are placed within the bone, and are called blade implants. This book will attempt to cover only those implants which resemble the root of the tooth. These are called root form implants, and they are placed into the bone to act as support for a prosthetic crown.
Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant sounds like an imposing and difficult treatment. In fact, the process can be simple. Hopefully with the help of your dentist and the following illustrations, your questions concerning how implants are used to replace missing teeth can be answered.
Treatment Options
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