Dental Implant Key Terminology

Dental Implant

A permanent replacement of a missing tooth or multiple teeth that is surgically placed into the jawbone to support crowns, bridges, or dentures.

Osseointegration

The process by which living cells grow and attach themselves to the surface of a dental implant, anchoring it firmly.

Osteotomy

Aka bone cutting or the surgical drilling into bone for implant placement

Surgical stent

A guide or template that is used to accurately position the implant during surgery.

Abutment

The point of attachment that is used to connect the implant to the replacement tooth crown, bridge, or denture.

Healing cap

A temporary protective cover that is placed on the implant to help shape gum tissue during the healing/ integration period.

Bone graft

Process in which additional bone material is placed within the socket if patient doesn’t have enough bone to stabilize the implant.

Autograft

Bone taken from the patients own body such as hip or jaw

Allograft

Uses bone from a different person, usually a cadaver

Xenograft

Bone is taken from another species such as cow, pig, or coral