What Is A Dental Implant?

Dental implants replace missing teeth. The design of a dental implant is based on the design of a natural tooth. The natural tooth is one piece commonly described as having two main parts. One part is the crown that sits above the gums. The second part is a root that sits securely in your jaw bone.

A dental implant treatment in Saginaw, Michigan may involve several pieces; however, it may also be described as having two main parts. One part is a restoration that is custom fabricated to match the shape of a natural tooth crown. The second part is the implant that Dr. Bannan, the Saginaw Area Dentist uses to  replace the function of a natural tooth root. Implants are made of titanium or titanium alloy. Unlike most materials, our body accepts titanium without infection.

The first phase of implant treatment involves creating an opening in the jaw bone in preparation for the implant.

Dr. Michael Bannan then places the implant, followed by a healing cover. Depending on the implant system, the gums may be sutured and a temporary denture placed. The site immediately begins to heal. A process known as oseo-integration takes place, where bone molecules begin to attach themselves to the titanium surrounding implant. It usually takes between 2 to 4 months for the bone to securely bond to the entire implant surface.

The final phase involves the custom restoration being fitted and securely placed.