Dental Implants work by copying the structure of the natural tooth. Your natural teeth are stable biting and chewing surfaces because they are supported by the bone of the jaws. This is also true of a dental implant. A dental implant can be thought of as an artificial tooth root that is submerged into the jawbone. Successful implants become firmly embedded in the jaw (this is called osseointegration) providing a stable base for the artificial crown to be mounted on.

Dental implants could be considered as a third set of teeth. They feel more natural and secure than the traditional removable dentures,especially if these are loose fitting due to bone loss. Implants can also be used to “anchor” dentures into the oral cavity thereby giving denture wearers much more confidence and biting ability than they had with just their plates.
Dental implants allow for the replacement of a single missing tooth [without having to modify adjacent teeth] through to a complete set of missing teeth. These pictures show only a single replacement but multiple teeth can be replaced.

Dental implants as a general rule are not complicated to place provided there is sufficient bone and gum to accept the implant. Where there has been a quantity of bone and /or gum loss, dental implants may still be used but the area may require pre-implant surgery with bone and gum augmentation.

The type of implant shown in the diagram is the type typical of those that are used to help secure dentures. The “ball head” clips into a special attachment on the inside of the denture, while the rest of the structure is integrated into the bone.
These two pictures show the basic type of implants that are currently available. One has its surface covered with spheres to increase surface area. The other is of a “self-tapping” screw type. There are now many different manufacturers but their products are only variations of these.

Stages

There are really three stages of placing implants although this depends upon the type of implant and what it’s specific function is.
Stage 1.
The implant root component is placed into the bone site. This is a surgical procedure involving opening the overlying gum to expose the alveolar bone. Making the implant socket in the bone and then either screwing the implant in on friction fitting it. The gum is then replaced and the wound closed with stitches. This procedure is done under sedation and local analgesia. After a week to ten days the stitches are removed and the buried implant is allowed to heal for about 20 weeks.
Stage 2.
This is usually a simple procedure and is done under local analgesia alone. The buried, secure implant is uncovered using a small incision in the gum tissue .A “healing coping” is attached to the implant and pokes up through the gum. The gum is allowed to heal around this coping for a period of about two weeks.
THIS COMPLETES THE SURGEONS PART OF THE PROCESS.
Stage 3.
The final post is screwed into the implant and the crown made and fitted.