Dental Implant Vocab: Key Terms You Should Know

Are you interested in getting dental implants to replace missing teeth? Knowing key terminology can help you ask meaningful questions and understand your dentist’s answers (of course, Dr. Makadia and our team are always willing to clear things up if we say something that needs more explanation!). What are some important words and phrases that you should be familiar with? This blog post shares several.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

• Dental implant: Contrary to popular belief, the term “dental implant” does not refer to the entire prosthetic structure that replaces a missing tooth, but it is actually just the post that gets surgically placed into the jawbone ·   
• Abutment: This is a small connector piece that attaches a dental implant to its restoration.
• Restoration: A restoration is the crown, bridge, or denture that gets secured on top of a dental implant. Essentially, these replace the visible portion of missing teeth.
•   Dentures: A full denture replaces all of the upper or all of the lower teeth. With dental implants, you might get an overdenture (a removable prosthetic that snaps onto the implants) or a fixed denture (a denture that stays in place 24/7).

Surgical Terms

• Bone graft: This is a preliminary procedure where extra bone material is put into the jawbone where the missing tooth is to strengthen and enlarge it. There are different types of bone grafts, so if you need one, be sure to ask for details!
• Implant placement surgery: This is when the implants are actually placed in your mouth. Again, the details can vary depending on the details of your unique case.
• Osseointegration: This is a biological process that occurs after dental implant placement, wherein your jaw fuses with an implant so it can act as a prosthetic tooth root.
• Alveolar ridge: Most people say that dental implants get placed in the jawbone. That is true. However, they are more specifically placed into the alveolar ridge, which is the part of the jawbone that normally holds the teeth.

Materials

• Titanium: Most implants are made of medical-grade titanium alloy which is hypoallergenic and tends to bond very well with human tissues.
• Ceramic: Implant restorations are often made of ceramic. “Ceramic” is a broad term that accurately describes a range of restoration materials, including zirconia, porcelain, and more. These options strongly resemble natural teeth.

These terms touch on the most basic concepts that relate to dental implant treatment. Do not hesitate to speak up during your consultation if you need more information about anything! When you are well-equipped with knowledge, you can enter your treatment journey with confidence.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Makadia has decades of experience in dentistry and has completed a prestigious dental implant maxi-course at NYU. He and our team are proud to provide start-to-finish tooth replacement services in our comfortable Bohemia office. To learn more about us or to request a consultation, contact Sunrise Dental Service on Long Island at 631-567-5566.