This article provides an introduction to dental implant technology by discussing what these teeth replacement devices are, how they work and what the historical discovery that made the entire field of implantology a possibility was.
Your pearly whites are by no means invulnerable. They can get knocked out accidently or sustain irreparable damage and/or decay for any of a number of reasons, necessitating dental implants in Arizona. While we tend to take our teeth for granted, especially in our youth, the reality is that most of us will at some stage during our life lose one or more of our teeth. In fact, as many as 30% of us will lose all of our teeth before we’re 70 years old!
Over 20 million Americans are completely edentulous (don’t have any teeth left), according to the American Dental Association. A further 100 million people have lost between 11 and 15 of their natural adult teeth. You may think that a complete set of teeth is the norm, but the older you get, the rarer and rarer this gift becomes! Thankfully, incredible advances in dental technology and medical science have made it possible for patients presenting with one, two or even all of their teeth missing to receive a sophisticated, functional and highly aesthetic tooth replacement. And this technology is dental implants in Arizona.
What are Dental Implants in Arizona?
Dental implants in Arizona are incredibly strong devices used to replace missing teeth. They are free-standing artificial tooth roots constructed from the exceptionally strong and non-corrosive metal, titanium. This metal fixture or screw is surgically placed in the sterilized and prepared socket/s left bare by the missing tooth or teeth. Once the base components of dental implants in Arizona have been placed, the dentist will affix an abutment to it, which in turn is used to support a ceramic tooth crown (in the case of single missing teeth) or a prosthetic dental bridge (in the case of multiple missing teeth). Over the course of the months following surgery, dental implants in Arizona undergo a very special process known as ‘osseointegration’.
Osseointegration: The Secret Behind the Success of Dental Implants in Arizona
In 1951, Swedish professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark (see image above) made the discovery that essentially led to the conception of the fields of orthopedic surgery and dental implantology. It was the unique ability of titanium metal to form a strong biological bond with bone tissue that turned the concept of permanent and non-removable dental implants in Arizona from theory to reality. Subsequent development and clinical trials have directed the evolution of dental implants in Arizona. Today, they are the most comprehensive and sophisticated functional and aesthetic solution to single and multiple missing teeth.
The incredible advantages of dental implants in Arizona are owed largely to osseointegration: the phenomenon Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered back in 1951. This process essentially enables dental implants in Arizona, with healing, to become permanently ‘rooted’ in the jaw bone, just like natural teeth:
1. Dental implants transmit the forces associated with eating directly into the underlying jaw bone, keeping it stimulated and therefore, alive and healthy.
2. Dental implants in Arizona provide strong support for an artificial tooth crown created from a highly durable ceramic material. This facilitates the grinding and/or biting function of the missing tooth. It’s carefully fabricated to look just like a natural tooth too.
3. Dental implants in Arizona are replacement teeth that feel natural and comfortable and don’t in any way damage the neighboring tissues.
A Final Note on Dental Implants in Arizona
The discovery of osseointegration, albeit accidental, conceived the entire field of dental implantology. Modern dental implants in Arizona now offer patients presenting with single and multiple missing teeth a fantastic, functional and long-lasting solution, giving you back your smile confidence!