Dental Implants are made up of three components: The abutment, the crown and the implant itself. Our Surrey dentists provide a brief overview below of each component.
Implant
The implant is the part of the tooth replacement that is actually implanted in the jaw, and acts as the root of the tooth. It is a tiny screw that is made of titanium.
Titanium is a metal that is compatible with body tissues. This means can bond with your jaw bone to form a new, stable tooth root.
Abutment
The abutment is usually made of either ceramic or titanium. It anchors the implant to the crown (the artificial tooth), ensuring a secure fit.
Crown
After the implant surgery and once your jaw and gum tissues have healed, the final step is to add a dental crown.
This is an artificial tooth replacement that looks and functions almost exactly like your natural tooth would have.
In some cases, when an implant is being placed to secure a dental bridge or denture, the crown portion will not necessarily be added.