Osseointegration and Dental Implants
Medford, OR
Without technologies associated with the materials involved in dental implants, we would not be able to give you natural feeling teeth. The process that makes this possible is osseointegration.
What Is Osseointegration?
The word comes from the latin words oseo which means bone and integrare which means to make whole. So the word means to make the bone whole, and the implants to make the bone whole by integrating into it's structure.
What Are Dental Implants Made Of?
Back in the 1950s it was discovered that when titanium was placed inside bones the body would connect the bones to the titanium. This integration is so complete that the titanium actually becomes part of the bone. Since then the medical industry has used titanium more and more in bone-related implants (joints, screws, pins, etc.).
Tooth Sockets
When a tooth is removed, the socket where the tooth was is now an empty hole. Your body slowly fills this hole with bone over time. The area around the hole might also collapse a bit during this process. This means the socket will be in one of three states before an implant is placed:
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Empty Socket: An open socket requires the least amount of preparation to receive the implant that fits in like a screw. |
| 2. |
Filled Socket: A hole in the bone needs to be drilled before the implant is installed.
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| 3. |
Collapsed Socket: The bone needs to be built up to the same level as the bone around the adjacent teeth using a bone graft. Once that is healed it is treated as a filled socket. |
Titanium Dental Implants
Once the area is prepared a titanium dental implant is placed inside the socket. The healing time is to allow the implant to integrate enough with the bone so other work can commence. When the titanium implant has integrated with the bone the implant cap and crown can be placed on top.
Are Dental Implants Like Real Teeth?
Because implanted teeth are anchored in the bone you will feel pressure and vibration on the tooth much in the same way you feel your other teeth. As a result, an implanted tooth feels much the same as your natural teeth.
Are you interested in learning more about the osseointegration prosses? Give us a call at (541) 622-2525 or book an appointment with us online today!
Learn More About Dental Implants
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Rogue Valley Dental Center 
