{"id":87,"date":"2025-06-03T16:46:05","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T16:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waterforddentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=87"},"modified":"2025-07-31T16:48:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T16:48:55","slug":"dental-implant-terms-you-should-learn-before-your-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waterforddentalgroup.com\/blog\/2025\/06\/03\/dental-implant-terms-you-should-learn-before-your-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Key Dental Implant Terms You Should Learn Before Your Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.waterforddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-300x200.png\" alt=\"a patient and dentist talking about dental implants\" class=\"wp-image-88\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.waterforddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.waterforddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.waterforddentalgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image.png 975w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Getting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waterforddentalgroup.com\/dental-implants.html\">dental implants<\/a> is an exciting step toward restoring your smile, but it\u2019s normal to feel a little overwhelmed by all the new terms your dental team might use. However, knowing some of the keywords associated with dental implants can help you feel more confident, ask better questions, and take excellent care of your new teeth, both immediately after receiving them and for decades beyond that. Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of a few important terms you\u2019re likely to hear during your treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Implant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes called a post, the <strong>implant<\/strong> is the small, screw-like rod that\u2019s made of biocompatible materials like titanium and is placed into your jawbone. It fuses with the bone to become a permanent tooth root replacement. You won\u2019t see the implant itself once it\u2019s healed, but it\u2019s the core support system of your dental restoration. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Abutment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>abutment<\/strong> is the connector that\u2019s attached to the top of the implant. You can think of it as the middle piece that links the implant post to your replacement tooth. It\u2019s normally placed during a small surgery after the mouth has healed from the initial implant placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Restoration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This simply refers to the custom-made teeth used to replace your lost pearly whites. They\u2019re made from natural-looking, durable materials and attached to the abutments once everything has properly healed up. They come in the form of <strong>crowns, bridges, or dentures<\/strong>, all of which can receive support from the underlying posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Osseointegration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Osseointegration<\/strong> refers to the healing period when your jawbone naturally fuses with the implant(s). It usually takes a few months and is what allows your implant to become stable and long-lasting. A successful osseointegration process means your new tooth will be just as strong as your natural ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bone Graft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, patients don\u2019t have enough healthy jawbone tissue to support an implant right away. That\u2019s where a <strong>bone graft<\/strong> comes into play! This procedure adds borrowed bone material to areas where your jawbone may have weakened or thinned due to tooth loss. After a healing period, this creates a strong enough base to place your dental implant securely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding these terms can make a big difference in how you experience your dental implant journey. A healthy smile starts with knowing the basics\u2014not just when it comes to hygiene, but also when it comes to the inner workings of your new smile!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our team here at Waterford Dental Group has served the needs of patients in Dublin, CA, and the surrounding area for several years. We offer a wide range of services, including dental implants to replace missing teeth\u2014placed in-house by our expert team using the latest methods and technologies. If you have any questions about the blog, or you\u2019re ready to begin rebuilding your smile, please feel free to reach out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waterforddentalgroup.com\/contact.html\">online<\/a> or by phone for more information or assistance. <strong>Telephone: (925) 803-5888.<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getting dental implants is an exciting step toward restoring your smile, but it\u2019s normal to feel a little overwhelmed by all the new terms your dental team might use. However, knowing some of the keywords associated with dental implants can help you feel more confident, ask better questions, and take excellent care of your new [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 Key Dental Implant Terms | Waterford Dental Group<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The process for receiving dental implants is a little more complicated than other options, but knowing the terminology can make things easier to understand.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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