A Dental Implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium that is surgically placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. The titanium screw fuses with the jawbone, holding the artificial tooth securely in your mouth. Dental Implants require a sufficient amount of healthy jawbone and healthy gums. If there isn’t a sufficient amount of jawbone, a bone graft might be necessary.
A restorative dentist makes the teeth, and an oral surgeon places the implants. The procedure is usually done in-office under local anesthesia or light sedation.
First, the oral surgeon makes a slit in the gum tissue over the area where the implant will be place. They then prepare for the implant by drilling into the jawbone. The post or the implant is screwed into the bone, and the gum tissue is stitched closed. The implant must sit for four months before teeth can be placed, which allows it to heal, fuse with the jawbone, and become stable.
Once the implant is stable, a small connecting piece called an abutment is attached to the screw. The implant is then finished by attaching a custom-made crown.
Implants can be quite expensive because they are often considered an elective procedure and not covered by most dental insurance plans. The average cost for a placing single dental implant is $3,000 to $4,500.