At West Ashley Family Dentistry, Dr. James Dickert and Dr. Agatha Lynn provide comprehensive dental implant treatments for replacing one or more missing teeth. We offer all types of dental implants in Charleston, SC, to restore a stable, comfortable smile that looks and feels completely natural.
Before dental implants, the only options for people with missing teeth had been dentures and dental bridges. With advances in technology, dental implants are now the number one choice for replacing missing teeth.
With the invention of dental implants, patients now have the option to replace the entire tooth, including the tooth root. By replacing the entire tooth, including the root, it is possible to restore the look, feel, and function of the natural tooth you once had.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small, biocompatible titanium post that is surgically placed in the jawbone. This post will serve as the artificial root for the prosthetic tooth. The dental implant is restored with a dental crown if you are missing a single tooth, with a dental bridge if you are missing several consecutive teeth, or with a denture if you are missing a whole row of teeth.
A dental implant consists of 3 parts: the implant post, the abutment, and a dental restoration.
1: Implant post
This is the bottom part of the dental implant that is surgically implanted into your jawbone. It sits just below the gum line. It is cylinder-shaped and resembles a screw. It’s made of biocompatible titanium that will eventually fuse with the jawbone, creating a permanent and secure bond. This titanium post will act as the tooth root. Dr. Dickert or Dr. Lynn will coordinate the surgical phase of your implant procedure with a local Charleston, SC, oral surgeon, who will place the post.
2: Abutment
The abutment is a small piece that connects to the implant post. The implant post requires 3-6 months to heal and fully fuse with your jawbone. After that, an abutment will be connected to the implant post. The abutment will screw onto the implant post and sit at the gum line. This part will support the dental prosthesis.
3: Dental Restoration
The prosthetic tooth can be a dental crown for a single missing tooth. The dental crown is typically cemented or screwed onto the abutment. A dental bridge or denture will be used for multiple missing teeth. They can be secured to the abutment by simply snapping them into place. The prosthetic tooth is the part that will look like a tooth (teeth) and will be color-matched to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
Types of Dental Implants
- Single-tooth dental crown supported by a dental implant
- Dental bridges that are supported by dental implants
- Dentures that are supported by dental implants