If you have a missing or badly damaged tooth, your dentist may recommend dental implant surgery as a tooth replacement solution. Dental implants are small screw-shaped posts that are inserted into the jawbone that act as an anchor for an artificial tooth such as a crown, bridge, or denture.
Dental implants are extremely popular thanks to their strength, longevity, and natural appearance. If you are considering getting a dental implant, it’s important to learn how are dental implants made and how they work so you can make an informed decision for your oral health.
How Can Dental Implants Help Patients?
For many patients with missing teeth, or teeth that are too damaged to be saved, tooth replacement is the only way for them to feel confident about their smile. However, dental implants can help with more than just aesthetics.
The jawbone under the site of a missing tooth is susceptible to deterioration. If this happens, it can cause several medical and cosmetic issues including tooth drifting, misaligned, or loosened teeth or, in extreme cases, a collapsed facial profile.
Dental implants help to prevent jawbone deterioration due to a missing tooth as they stimulate bone growth, and allow people to eat, talk, and smile with confidence.
What are Dental Implants Made From?
While the term ‘dental implant’ refers to the metal post that functions as a root, when we talk about dental implant surgery it includes the fitting of the entire replacement tooth, which is composed of three parts:
- The tooth implant is the metal post, or screw, typically made from a biocompatible material, titanium. Titanium bonds well with bone, so it forms a solid base for the artificial tooth.
- The abutment, a small structure made of titanium, gold, or zirconia, which holds the crown to the implant post.
- The replacement tooth or teeth. This is usually a custom-made crown but could also be a bridge or denture. Whichever type of artificial tooth is chosen, it will be crafted to blend perfectly with your natural teeth.
How Are Dental Implants Made: A Step-by-Step Guide
- The process of crafting the metal post begins with a long titanium rod. One 4m rod can be used to make around 200 implants.
- The rod is inserted into a holding device and fed into a lathe system where it spins as computerised tools shape it and cut threads into the outside. These threads help to anchor the implant securely into the patient’s jawbone.
- The rod is then cut to the correct length.
- A drill hollows out the rod and cuts more threads, this time inside the freshly-hollowed out rod. These threads help to secure the artificial tooth to the implant.
- Once the newly-shaped dental implant has been cleaned, it is taken to a vision measuring system where a camera takes pictures of it from all angles. These pictures are analysed by a computer to ensure the dimensions are perfect.
- When a selection of implants have been cut and measured, they are placed in a special cleaning machine where they are enveloped with solvent vapour which cleans off any residual oils left on the implant from the cutting process.
- The different parts of the dental implant then go through a process called anodisation. First, the inside of the implant is anodised to colour-code it. Then, the outside is anodised to make it porous, which allows for better osseointegration.
- Finally, the piece is cleaned and sterilised before it is sent to the dentist to perform the dental implant surgery.
The Process of Dental Implant Surgery
You will first have a thorough consultation with your dentist to establish that you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. This involves several X-rays to give the dentist a clear picture of the affected area and your overall oral health.
The most common procedure for implant insertion involves the dentist making a small incision into the gum, exposing the jawbone. A hole is then drilled into the bone, and the implant is screwed into place, where it will be left for several months to allow the bone to fuse. The dentist will usually place a temporary crown on the implant, so you don’t have a gap in your teeth.
Once the implant is stable, you undergo a minor surgical procedure so the abutment can be fitted. In some cases, this can be done at the same time as the implant insertion. Your gums are then given time to heal before the artificial tooth is attached.
After the implant site has healed, your dentist takes an impression of the area which is used to ensure your artificial tooth is the perfect fit. Most dental implant capping crowns are made from porcelain or zirconia, due to their strength, biocompatible qualities, and realistic tooth-like appearance.
At No Gaps Dental, we offer CEREC crowns which are custom-made on-site using the latest 3D scanning and CAD/CAM technology. This service allows us to shorten the overall length of the dental implant procedure.
Final Thoughts
If you are considering restorative dentistry to replace a missing tooth, and wondering, how are dental implants made?, the highly qualified dental team at No Gaps Dental are happy to answer your questions about implants and other dental health issues.
Due to their longevity, dental implants are a relatively cost-effective solution to missing teeth. However, some patients are concerned because of the significant initial investment. The team at No Gaps Dental are committed to maintaining the oral health of our patients and want to assure that implants are accessible. As such, we offer generous payment plans for patients looking to undergo dental implant treatment in Sydney.
Contact us at (02) 8806 0227 to arrange a consultation at a No Gaps Dental location near you.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.