How Dental Implants Work

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It can be challenging to duplicate the natural function and appearance of teeth lost due to periodontal disease or other causes. In the past, limited results have been obtained through using dentures, dental crown restorations, or dental crown-supported bridges (please click here to see glossary for term definitions). Fortunately, dental implants are now available. Dental implants provide similar function to natural tooth roots, and support great looking alternatives to traditional dental devices.

Dental implants are the ideal treatment for replacing single or multiple teeth lost due to accident or periodontal disease (please click here to see a 3D video on dental implant alternatives to replacing one or more teeth). Dental-implant-supported crowns and bridges are fixed in the mouth in a "patient non-removable fashion.” Because dental implant restorations usually look and function like natural teeth without cutting or shaving down neighboring teeth, they are the ideal treatment alternative.

Once dental implants are placed, they literally bond themselves to jawbone cells. The titanium/bone cell junctions function the same as the bone cells bonding to themselves or to teeth. This process is called osseointegration of dental implants.

Dental implants not only replace natural tooth roots, but they also help prevent deterioration of jawbone cells (bone loss) by stimulating bone cells to continue normal function. This helps to keep jawbone and gum tissue from collapsing, especially in the front of the mouth (called the aesthetic zone). Early placement of dental implants following tooth loss from periodontal disease can prevent an unattractive smile from developing due to such bone loss or periodontal-disease-induced gum recession (please click here to view a 3D video for more graphic information about jaw bone preservation by periodontal bone grafting).