Dental Implants are made up of three different parts: The implant itself, an abutment, and a crown. Here, our Surrey dentists provide a brief overview of each component.
Implant
The actual implant itself is a tiny screw that is made of titanium. It is the part that is actually implanted into the jaw, and functions as an artificial tooth root.
Titanium is a metal that is compatible with body tissues. It can bond with the bone of your jaw to form a new, stable tooth root that functions like a natural root does.
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
Once your mouth has healed from the surgical implant procedure, and the dental implant and the abutment are in place, the final step in the process is to add a dental crown.
This is an artificial tooth replacement that looks and functions almost exactly like a natural tooth does in your mouth.
Sometimes, when an implant is being placed to secure a dental bridge or denture, the crown portion will not necessarily be added.