Dental implants are artificially created tooth roots. They resemble the shape of a dowel and are placed directly into edentulous sections of the jawbone. Above this anchored implant body is a neck part on which an implant crown is placed.
What are dental implants?
The function of the dowel-shaped implant is to grow into the living tissue of the jawbone and then provide a dental crown with a firm hold in the mouth. The dowel-shaped implant has the function of being able to grow into the living tissue of the jaw bone and subsequently provide a dental crown with a firm hold in the mouth. This connection must be strong enough to withstand the stressful pressure of chewing. The material of the implant must therefore be biocompatible. This is the only way to ensure that the body does not develop any defensive reactions. Implants therefore have a healing period of at least three months after insertion. After that, they are firmly fused with the bone. Living bone cells grow to the surface of the implant body. Once the stability of the implant is ensured, the implant crown can be placed. This artificial tooth crown is screwed or cemented onto the neck part. The neck part of an implant is particularly smooth. It is located at the interface with the oral mucosa and should therefore be particularly easy to clean. The jawbone is thus protected, as bacteria cannot penetrate from the oral cavity. The smoothness of the neck section also protects against inflammation. The three-part structure of an implant consisting of the implant body, neck section and implant crown is also called endosseous. This form of an implant is used almost exclusively.
Shapes, types and types
There are now many different implant systems. The systems have the common feature of all being anchored in the jawbone by a screw shape, cylinder shape or root shape. What is different is the design. Furthermore, there are differences in the mating of the neck part and the artificial denture to be attached to it. The surfaces of the implants can also have different designs. With a modern implant system, practically every tooth in the dentition can be replaced. Since a dental implant looks very natural and like a real tooth, its importance is especially great in the anterior region. A dental implant is always a nature-identical tooth replacement. Materials from which a dental implant is made must meet the highest standards of biocompatibility and strength. Therefore, implants are mainly made of titanium alloys or pure titanium. Titanium is a metal that is accepted by the body without rejection or allergic reactions. Alternatively, there are also implants made of special ceramic material. However, these ceramic implants are much more prone to fracture than metal implants. The goal of every implant is osseointegration. This means the attachment of bone tissue to the load-bearing implant. Compared to a natural tooth, the biomechanical situation of an implant is different. The artificial tooth abutment has direct bone contact. The protective connective tissue layer is missing. As a result, there is no mobility between the bone and the implant, which leads to better relief in a healthy tooth. In the process of healing, comparisons have shown that the additively or subtractively conditioned surfaces in implants have a better microstructure than the mechanically smooth implant bodies. Most systems have subtractively conditioned surfaces. These surfaces are removed by etching, irradiation or oxidation. This results in significantly positive outcomes for successful osseointegration in long-term clinical studies.
Structure and mode of operation
Despite the many different manufacturers and implant systems, the basic structure of a dental implant is always the same. Every dental implant consists of several components. First of all, this always includes the implant body as the basis. It is the artificial tooth root that provides strength and stability accordingly after the required healing time. Each treatment with a dental implant therefore also begins with a corresponding drilling into the jawbone to create a sleeve into which the implant body can be inserted.To ensure that this dowel-like shape can also grow in well, the surface is provided with a special structure, etched or roughened. As an alternative to titanium, the ceramic zirconium oxide is available as an implant body. The implants are screw-shaped or cylindrical. They come in different diameters and lengths. The size of a dental implant depends on the area of application, the tooth gap to be filled and the function of the tooth gap in the dentition. The connecting part between the implant body and the crown is the neck part of the implant, also called the crown abutment. Its function is to create sufficient distance between the gum and the visible part of the implant. Furthermore, it fulfills the purpose of a connecting link. The visible dental crown is placed on the crown abutment. Fully installed, a dental implant replaces a natural tooth and is also similarly resilient.
Medical and health benefits
Dental implants can be of great benefit to patients whose chewing ability is limited by lost teeth. In some cases, they also offer advantages over dental bridges. For example, when a single-tooth gap is replaced, adjacent teeth no longer need to be ground down. Furthermore, the disturbing clasps that damage neighboring teeth are no longer necessary. Compared to removable dentures, implants are also much more stable and provide optimum support for the chewing function. Dental implants thus give a patient more quality of life for everyday life. Furthermore, pressure points and the associated discomfort are also avoided. Dental implants thus complete a dentition with gaps. They are also visually almost indistinguishable from natural teeth. Thus, they also meet aesthetic requirements for a beautiful set of teeth. Nevertheless, such an intervention in the body should not be underestimated. Inflammation may occur, the bone may not heal properly, or people may be sensitive to the foreign body in the mouth.
