Even though dental implants are getting far more recognition today than ever before, some people are unfamiliar with what a dental implant is, as well as how it functions. A dental implant is made up of three parts: the post, the abutment and the dental crown. Each has a particular function. The post is the part of the dental implant that mimics the natural tooth root. It is surgically embedded into the jaw bone. After surgery, it takes several months for the post to heal and the bone to fuse to the post. During this time period, your periodontist will see you regularly to ensure the fusion is occurring.

After the post has properly fused to the bone, the abutment is added. This portion of the dental implant supports the crown. At the time the abutment is put into place, a temporary dental crown is added until a permanent crown can be made. The permanent crown will be individually created using computerized, 3D software. The crown will match your existing teeth and blend in naturally. In fact, many dental implant patients tell us that after a while, they forget that the tooth is man-made and not natural!