Components of Dental Implants

Implant Post, Abutments, Prosthesis

Usually, conventional dental implants have a three-piece design. The three components are the implant post or screw, the abutment that attaches to the implant post, and the prosthesis or tooth restoration, which could be a crown, bridge, or denture.

Dental implants with three main components have been widely used for decades and are tried and tested, providing a reliable treatment outcome.

The Implant Post

The implant post or screw is inserted into the jawbone during a short surgical procedure using advanced computer guided surgery. The actual post looks a little like a natural tooth root, which is precisely the way it's designed, so if you see an implant post, you may notice its end is tapered just like a real tooth root.

Dental implant posts are available in a huge variety of different diameters, ensuring Dr. Leonard Umanoff can choose the most appropriate diameter for the tooth requiring restoration.

For example, a larger diameter is more suitable for larger teeth, such as a molar, while a narrow diameter implant is more suited for smaller teeth such as incisors. The length of dental implant posts also varies according to the size and location of the tooth to be replaced.

An implant post may be up to 18 mm in length, and for example, mini dental implants tend to have longer posts for greater strength and stability. A conventional dental implant post is hollow so that the abutment can be screwed onto the post.

A three-piece implant design allows the implant posts to be covered up for osseointegration, so it isn't necessarily restored immediately with the prosthesis. Instead, the abutment is attached later when the implant dentist is ready to fabricate and fit the implant prosthesis.

Implant Abutments

There is a huge range of implant abutments dependent on the implant system used to restore teeth. For example, implant abutments that secure implant crowns and bridges are very different compared to abutments used to support dentures. An implant abutment used to secure a crown or bridge looks a little like a tiny tooth stuck, protruding above the gum line.

Abutments used to support a denture are very different, as the denture implants can have special attachments on its fitting surface and which clip onto the abutments, or the abutments are used to support a bar. The denture then clips directly onto the bar.

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