Dental implants in Sparks go through a long process before they can fit inside a human jawbone. Thanks to a video published by The Science Channel, patients can experience this process for themselves and learn just how a large titanium rod becomes an implant that’s integrated into their body for many years to come.
Through the series How It’s Made, patients get an inside look to the manufacturing, designing, and sanitizing process, allowing it to be bonded with bone seamlessly. Keep reading to learn each step of the process!
It All Starts With a Single Rod
In the mid-20th century, a team of scientists led by Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark accidentally discovered that titanium could be bonded with bone, making it’s use as a base for replacing teeth a viable solution. Today, implants are mass-produced in factories around the world.
They start as a titanium rod, typically averaging about four meters in length. After inserting into a holding device, the rod is fed into a lathe, which is a large machine designed to shape materials through a rotating drive. The rod is spun and another computerized machine begins adding threads into the implant. This will allow it to screw into the jawbone.
After threading the outside, another machine grabs the implant while another machine begins cutting it into a much smaller piece. This makes it the shape that we know as implants. Then, another computerized drill carves threads into the opposite end, hollowing it out so it has room for an implant-retained crown to be attached.
The Measuring, Cleaning, and Colorization Process
After fabrication, the implant is digitally photographed to collect measurements. This ensures that all the dimensions are exactly right and that the size the dentist orders will fit inside the patient’s jawbone perfectly. At this point, the implant needs to be cleaned by a specialized washing machine called a vapor degreaser. This removes any residual lubricant oils used during the fabrication process.
Next, the implant is given a plastic collar separating the hollowed and pointed ends. Colorization, also known as anodizing, is intended to make distinguishing the diameter of that specific implant easy. To do this, the hollowed side is placed in a mild acid and given an electrical charge to make the titanium change color. After the plastic collar is removed, the exterior is placed in an acid bath for anodizing, but in this case to make it more porous. This allows it to bond more effectively to natural bone.
After going through a high-frequency sound wave bath in hot purified water, which gently scrubs the implant, it is sterilized and ready for placement.
A Natural Solution for Replacing Teeth
Since titanium is biocompatible, it’s able to bond to bone naturally without worry of rejection. In fact, because patients with tooth loss lack a periodontal ligament in that tooth, it creates a stronger bond than it had before. Both ensure the implant will last for many decades. If properly cared for, it can easily last a lifetime, giving you the peace of mind that you won’t need to replace it later.
Want to learn more about the process? Schedule an appointment with your dentist in Sparks today!
About the Author
Thanks to Dr. Marc Thomas’s training in implant dentistry, producing CEREC same-day crowns, and in the use of the CT/Cone beam scanner, he’s able to perform the planning stage, the surgical implantation, and create the restoration all in-house. This saves you time during your visit and provides a more catered experience. To learn more about his practice, contact him through his website.