Dental implants providers glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a dental implants provider provider in Columbia, SC.

What is a ball attachment implant?: A ball attachment implant is a dental implant fitted with a ball-shaped abutment that provides retention for an overdenture through a socket mechanism on the denture base.
What is a CBCT scan?: A cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan is a 3D imaging tool that maps bone structure, nerves, and sinuses to guide dental implant planning and placement.
What is a delayed loading protocol?: Delayed loading is the standard dental implant procedure where the artificial tooth root integrates with the jawbone for several months before the final crown or bridge is attached.
What is a dental implant abutment?: An abutment is a connector piece that screws onto a dental implant post and serves as the foundation for attaching a crown or bridge.
What is a healing abutment?: A healing abutment is a temporary cap or collar screwed onto a dental implant immediately after placement to shape and guide gum tissue healing around the implant site.
What is a locator attachment?: A locator attachment is a small male-female connector system that fastens an overdenture to dental implants, allowing patients to remove and clean the denture independently.
What is a mini dental implant?: Mini dental implants are narrower dental implants (typically under 4mm in diameter) designed to stabilize loose dentures or replace small teeth in areas with limited bone volume.
What is a sinus lift?: A surgical procedure that lifts the sinus membrane upward and places bone graft material to thicken the upper jawbone so dental implants can be anchored properly in the upper rear jaw.
What is a zygomatic implant?: A zygomatic implant is an extended dental implant anchored into the cheekbone (zygoma) rather than the upper jaw bone, designed for patients with significant maxillary bone loss who cannot support conventional implants.
What is an All-on-6 implant?: All-on-6 implants are a full-arch tooth replacement technique anchored by six dental implants per jaw, offering increased support and bone contact compared to All-on-4 systems.
What is an immediate load implant?: An immediate load implant is a procedure in which a temporary crown or denture is secured to a dental implant on the same day as the surgical placement, eliminating the traditional waiting period before a permanent restoration.
What is an implant bridge?: An implant bridge is a permanently anchored replacement for multiple consecutive missing teeth, supported by two or more dental implants rather than natural teeth.
What is an implant crown?: An implant crown is a prosthetic tooth restoration that is cemented or screwed onto an abutment connected to a dental implant, restoring the appearance and function of a missing tooth.
What is an implant fixture?: An implant fixture is a screw-shaped titanium post surgically placed into the jawbone to serve as the artificial root that supports a dental implant crown.
What is an implant stability quotient?: The implant stability quotient (ISQ) is a numerical measurement that indicates how securely a dental implant has integrated into the jawbone, used by dentists to assess whether the implant can safely receive a crown or other restoration.
What is an implant-supported denture?: An implant-supported denture is a removable or fixed prosthetic that clips or cements onto dental implants embedded in the jawbone, providing greater stability and retention than traditional tissue-borne dentures.
What is an overdenture?: An overdenture is a removable prosthetic denture that attaches to and clips onto two or more dental implants using retention attachments, providing more stability than a conventional denture while remaining removable for cleaning and maintenance.
What is bone grafting for implants?: Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that adds bone material to the jaw to restore or increase bone volume and density before or during dental implant placement.
What is guided implant surgery?: Guided implant surgery is a surgical technique that uses computer-generated 3D planning and a custom surgical guide to position dental implants at exact angles and depths with high precision.
What is osseointegration?: Osseointegration is the biological process by which a titanium or zirconia dental implant fuses directly with the jawbone, creating a stable foundation for tooth replacement.
What is peri-implant mucositis?: Peri-implant mucositis is inflammation of the soft gum tissue around a dental implant without loss of the supporting bone, representing an early stage that can be reversed with proper care.
What is peri-implantitis?: Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease of the gum tissue and bone surrounding a dental implant, caused by bacterial infection and characterized by bone loss.
What is screw-retained vs cement-retained crown?: Screw-retained and cement-retained crowns are two methods of permanently attaching a prosthetic crown to a dental implant abutment, differing in how they achieve retention and how they are removed if needed.
What is titanium vs zirconia implants?: Titanium and zirconia are the two primary materials used for dental implant posts, chosen based on strength, biocompatibility, aesthetic goals, and patient preference for metal-free options.