?:definition
|
-
Dental devices designed for total or partial implantation in the maxillary or mandibular bone (i.e., endosteal or endosseous). These implants typically consist of devices resembling a screw and are made of alloplastics (e.g., metal) materials; titanium (and/or titanium alloy) is the most frequently used metal due to its ability to become incorporated in the bone structure (i.e., fused to the bone, known as osseointegration). Standard endosteal dental implants are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including implants appropriate for individual teeth (i.e., root-form implants), several teeth (i.e., fixed bridges), and complete denture support. Dedicated long flat implants (i.e., plate-form implants) are available that can fit into the jawbone when the bone is too narrow for a root-form implant and the area is not suitable for a bone graft.
|