A dental implant is made up of three components: the screw, the abutment and the crown. The screw is the metal portion of the implant, which is placed inside your jaw bone. The abutment is the component which connects the crown to the screw. The crown is the top part, which is in the shape of a tooth. The screw fuses with the bone, giving you superior stability and function.

First, the implant screw is placed in the bone. This is usually done with local anesthesia (numbing shot). The procedure is far less traumatic than having a tooth extracted, and many compare it to getting a filling done. Once the screw is in place, a cover is placed on the screw, and it is allowed to heal. No crown is placed at this time.

Don’t worry, if the tooth is visible in your smile, we can provide you with a tooth replacement during the healing process. This temporary replacement is called an Essix. The Essix retainer looks like a clear retainer with a tooth in the spot of the implant.

The implant is allowed to heal for approximately three months. We then take off the healing cover and take impressions for a new crown. Finally, the crown is screwed into the abutment, and you can enjoy your new implant!

As long as you take good care of your implant, it can last a lifetime! The implant is made of metal and ceramic, so it will not get a cavity. It does require maintenance, however! Excellent oral hygiene and twice yearly exams can ensure that the bone around the implant stays healthy. Just like your car, some parts may need to be adjusted, tightened or replaced over time. With that being said, dental implants have a >96% success rate!

Absolutely! There are several options for replacing all of your teeth. Please check out our Dentures page for more information!