Dental implants have become a popular way to replace missing teeth, and it's for a good reason. They're the most stable, low-maintenance, and attractive restorations available today, and Dr. Ahmed ElSayed, your dentist in Madera, California, is proud to offer them at his practice, Madera Family Dental Care. Below, your Madera dentist will discuss the three parts that make up dental implants: how they're made and their role in the restoration as a whole.

Post

The placement of the post is the first step in the process of receiving dental implants. The post is usually made from a metal that is both lightweight and strong, such as titanium or zircon, and resembles a tiny screw. Your Madera dentist will make a small incision in your jawbone where your missing tooth resided; that space will be filled with the post. The healing process is simple and requires very little, if any downtime, but it will be several months before the jawbone has fused with the post and the abutment can be installed.

Abutment

Even smaller than the post, the metal abutment serves simply yet very important purpose as the middle portion of your dental implant. It connects the post to the final portion of the implant, known as the crown.

Crown

Once finished, the crown is the only part of the dental implant you will see. Crowns are usually made from porcelain and are carefully shaped, painted, and polished to look exactly like a natural tooth. They attach to the post by way of the abutment and are an amazingly realistic and durable way to fill in gaps left by missing teeth. Not only will you feel more comfortable about smiling, you'll also be able to eat more efficiently and will help to keep your teeth from shifting out of place due to the absence of a tooth.

If you're interested in learning more about dental implants, it's time to contact Madera Family Dental Care for an appointment with Dr. ElSayed today! We look forward to helping you restore your smile!