Having the right size dental implant is crucial to the long term stability and successful osseointegration of the bone to the implant. Osseointegration is defined as the connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing artificial implant.
It is this process which allows the jaw bone to form a natural bond with the implants abutment i.e. the tapered load carrying part.
The correct size (diameter and length) of a dental implant is important because not only does it influence stability, but is also a determining factor in any future atrophy occurring. Plus, it also allows for the optimum surface area for osseintegration to take place.
Because the implant needs to be surrounded by bone, the thickness of the bone itself needs to exceed 0.72 to 1.0 mm in diameter. Care also needs to be taken between the distance between the adjacent teeth and the crestal bone characteristics. Furthermore, it is also important to recognise that not everyone has the same space, availability or quality of bone.
Mastication load also plays a role in the implant choice and therefore implants are optimized accordingly to take this extra element into account for each individual.
As dental implants behave like natural teeth, the successful osseointegration of the implant to the jaw bone can also help stimulate healthy long lasting bone formation.
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