What Are Conventional Dental Implants?

Conventional dental implants are used to replace missing teeth or teeth that cannot be saved by any other means. They look and feel like your own teeth. Dental implants have been used since the mid-1960s to replace teeth permanently.

All dental implants have three main components: a titanium screw fixture (which is placed into the jawbone), an abutment (which is attached to the screw), and a crown that is either all ceramic or porcelain fused to precious metal (which is placed on the abutment).

We can use one implant to replace a single missing tooth, or we can use multiple implants to replace a whole missing arch of teeth. In instances where we find the bone volume or quality to be inadequate, we carry out a routine procedure called bone grafting, or a sinus lift if there is not enough bone in the upper jaw.

It is good to keep in mind that most dentists would recommend keeping your own natural teeth rather than extraction and implantation, but in the cases where this is not possible, dental implants can provide patients with a functional and aesthetically pleasing smile.

Below are before and after images of a conventional implant-retained ceramic crown which is used to replace one tooth and a conventional implant-retained ceramic bridge which is used to replace multiple teeth.

How Conventional Implants Work

Stage 1

Before a conventional implant can be placed you start with an empty space left by a missing tooth, or if there is a damaged tooth it will need to be removed.

Stage 2

The first stage of the procedure involves placing a small titanium screw into your jawbone. Titanium is a highly biocompatible material and therefore integrates with the bone tissue to form a new, stable tooth “root”. The implant takes three to six months to fuse with the bone and form a solid structure.

Stage 3

When the bone has healed around the implant, an abutment is attached to the implant fixture. This is a ceramic or titanium component that ensures a secure fit between the dental implant and the crown.

Stage 4

Once the dental implant and the abutment are in place, we fit the porcelain crown up to the edge of the gum line to replicate a natural tooth. The dental implant is now complete. In most cases, it is virtually impossible to see the difference between your own natural teeth and the new implant tooth.