Have you decided that you are interested in an all-on-4 dental implant, and getting ready to visit a dentist for a consultation? If so, there are going to be a lot of terms that you are unfamiliar with. It is best to know the following terminology so that it does not feel like your dentist is speaking a foreign language to you.

Titanium Post

Getting a dental implant will require placing a post into your jawbone, which is made out of titanium. It's one of the three key parts of the implant that come together to form an artificial tooth. The titanium post acts as the root that holds it all in place.

Osseointegration

The key process that makes a dental implant work is osseointegration. This is when the titanium post is inserted into your jaw bone actually fuses together with it. This gives the post the strength that it needs so that it will not fall out of your jaw, as well as allow you to eat your favorite food and not worry about the tooth slipping out of place when talking. Know that this process can take several months to happen, during which you will need to care for the implant to make sure that it doesn't fail.

Abutment

The titanium post will have a piece placed onto it known as the abutment. This is the part of the implant that sticks out from your gums and is used to attach the dental crown. It says in place by using a threaded end to screw onto the titanium post, which should help ensure that it won't move once it is attached.

Crown

The crown is very similar to a crown used to repair a tooth after a root canal or fill the gap between teeth when using a dental bridge. It's designed to look and feel like a natural tooth, with it often made out of porcelain material. The crown attaches to the abutment, but it doesn't screw onto it. Instead, it is attached with dental cement to hold it in place.

Bone Graft

If the dentist finds that your jawbone is too weak for a dental implant, they may recommend a bone graft. This process involves taking a piece of a bone from another part of your body or using an artificial bone. It will then be placed on your jaw to give is some additional strength to support the dental implant.