A dental implant is basicly an artificial tooth root. They are used in prosthetic dentistry to anchor in restorations that look like a tooth or a group of teeth. Professor Per-Ingvar Branemark from Sweden discovered that titanium could be easily fused into bone which forms a structural and functional connection between the titanium implant and living bone. This is because osteoblasts grow onto the rough surface of the implanted titanium.

The typical implant consists of a titanium screw with a roughened surface that is treated by plasma spraying, etching or sandblasting to make it easier for the osteoblasts to grab hold. Most treatments are done over several months through a series of operations under general anesthesia, however, sometimes it can be done in only one visit. For more information on dental implants, ask your dentist about it today!

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