Dental Implantology Terms and Definitions
Posted on: May 19, 2021
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It’s exciting to discover that dental implants can restore your smile by successfully replacing one or more missing teeth. Dental implants offer several advantages over other missing teeth solutions like bridges or dentures. These advantages include:
• Implants can prevent bone loss and preserve jaw structure
• Implants don’t require natural teeth to be filed down
• Implants allow you to enjoy a normal diet
• Implants can look, feel and function just like natural teeth
• Implants can provide superior stability and comfort
Implant dentistry involves the use of special instruments and techniques that will likely be new to you. Although Dr Norcross will thoroughly explain the procedure and answer all your questions, you may benefit from learning some common terms and their definitions before surgery.
3D Bone Scan (CBCT)
3D Imaging in dentistry continues to improve the quality of care delivered. Perth Dental Implant Centre uses 3D scanners to evaluate your jaw before planning where an implant should go. This scanner, known as a CBCT or a 3D bone scan, provides an accurate view of bone, nerves, and other vital tissues. The three-dimensional image of your jaw enables Dr Norcross to precisely place the dental implant while avoiding these structures. A 3D bone scan is required before any dental implant surgery can take place.
Abutment
After the implant heals, a connector fastens to the implant. A dental bonding material permanently attaches a crown to this abutment to securely hold it in place. Abutments are also used to secure fixed implant bridges and implant-retained dentures. At Perth Dental Implant Centre, we can provide standard and custom abutments for your dental implants.
All-On-4®
All-on-4® is a technique developed by Professor Paulo Malo for swiss-owned dental implant company, Nobel BioCare. All-On-4® refers to a full set of teeth attached to four dental implants (full mouth dental implants), both the protocol and dental implant systems are registered trademarks of Nobel BioCare. The protocol involves placing posterior dental implants on a 45 degree angle to avoid or reduce the need for a bone graft. A fixed implant bridge is attached within five days of surgery, providing a quick solution to replacing all missing teeth.
Bone Grafting
After a tooth is lost, the bone at the extraction site begins to shrink or dissolve. A bone grafting procedure uses small amounts of bone taken from other areas of the mouth combined with artificial bone to replace and regenerate lost bone. This creates a solid base to support the implant. Bone grafts are commonly provided to patients who have gone without a tooth or multiple teeth for a long time.
Dental Crown
It is important to understand that a dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth but not the crown of the tooth. The visible part of a tooth above the gum line needs replacing with a dental crown . The crown is connected to the implant via an abutment.
Dental Implant
An implant is a titanium screw-like post surgically placed in to the jaw that replaces the root of a tooth. It is connected to a dental crown (or prosthetic tooth) using a special attachment or abutment.
Digitally Guided Implant Surgery
This is a minimally invasive ‘keyhole’ technique it’s used for placing dental implants. The old way of placing an implant was by free hand after estimating the best position for an implant using a scan and maths. Today, a 3D CBCT scan and 3D surgical guide is used to place an implant precisely into the jaw bone, taking a lot of the guesswork out of surgery. It makes for a faster and safer surgery and for a more predictable outcome. You can learn more about this procedure by watching our video.
Edentulism
Is a clinical term used to describe partially or wholly missing teeth. An edentulous patient has no natural remaining teeth.
Immediate Final Bridge
An immediate final bridge refers to an acrylic bridge that’s been reinforced by a milled titanium frame for added strength and durability. It is immediately loaded onto dental implants within a few days of receiving All-On-4® or full mouth implant surgery.
Immediate Implant
Under certain circumstances, you can receive a dental implant immediately after a tooth is removed. Placement of a temporary crown allows time for the implant to bond to the bone before restoring the implant with a permanent crown. The advantages of immediate implant placement include:
• Requires less treatment time and fewer appointments
• Helps to maintain the jaw bone and gum tissue for a better outcome
• Reduces overall healing time
Layered Zirconia
Layered zirconia also known as porcelain-layered zirconia, is a zirconia restoration at its core that’s been layered over the top with porcelain for a superior aesthetic appearance. Porcelain has a translucent quality that mimic the appearance of natural teeth. It’s a popular aesthetic option for crowns and bridges.
Monolithic Zirconia
Monolithic zirconia or full contour zirconia is zirconia that’s been milled from a single block of zirconium oxide. It offers added strength and resists stains. Zirconia is a popular tooth material for crowns and bridges.
Osseointegration
A term used to describe the healing process in which a dental implant fuses to the jaw bone. The process can take between three and six months and is critical to the long-term success of dental implant treatment.
Overdenture
A full denture supported by dental implants that helps to stabilise and improve the function and feel of a denture. It clips on and off denture abutments for daily cleaning and needs to be left out overnight like a regular denture. It is also known as an implant-retained or implant-supported denture.
Prosthesis
A dental prosthesis refers to an artificial tooth or teeth, such as a crown, bridge or denture. Artificial teeth replace missing or extracted teeth and are sometimes known as prosthetic teeth.
Prosthetist
A dental prosthetist is a dental practitioner that designs and repairs dentures. Perth Dental Implant Centre is proud to be home to one of Perth’s most experienced prosthetists, Donagh McDonagh.
TGA
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is Australia’s regulatory authority for therapeutic goods including medicines, medical devices and diagnostic tests. In Australia, dentists may only used dental implant parts and systems that have been approved for use by the TGA.
Titanium
Titanium remains the gold standard for the fabrication of dental implants (1). There are several advantages of titanium which has made it the material of choice for dental implants, such as:
• Strong but lightweight
• Few people are allergic to titanium
• Titanium fuses with existing bone
• Titanium has decades of success as the primary dental implant material
Zirconia
Zirconia is a biocompatible restorative material used for single tooth implant crowns, fixed implant bridges and full mouth implant bridges. Before zirconia was used in dentistry, dentists would use PFM (porcelain fused to metal) restorations which would sometimes cause reactions in patients with metal allergies. Zirconia is a relatively new tooth material that can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years or longer with proper care.
Get in Touch Today
Dental implants can change your smile and improve your overall health by comfortably and safely replacing missing teeth. Dr Norcross is highly trained and has years of clinical experience using the latest implant technology . For an implant consultation in our Kelmscott location, call 1300 108 133 to book at our Kelmscott or East Vic Park clinic.
