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When
a tooth is lost, both the root and the crown need to be replaced.
Essentially, a dental implant is a new artificial root. This titanium
root is fitted into a socket created in the jaw, replacing the lost
root of the natural tooth. Dental implants come in various shapes and
sizes and have different types of surfaces. The actual implant
selection will depend on a variety of factors, depending on how hard
the bone is, the implant will require six to twelve weeks of healing.
When this initial phase of healing is completed, a support post called
an abutment is placed into the implant itself and then a new crown or
replacement tooth is placed on top. In addition, implants can stabilize
or replace a denture, a partial denture, which returns chewing function
to a normal level.
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