A dental implant is becoming more and more popular as a means of fixing artificially made tooth. It is a means that is permanent, and is one of the best ways to keep teeth in the most natural way. It is known as an Endosteal Implant in the trade and is basically a plate made from titanium, this metal is extremely clean in that it has no iron in to rust and is very hard wearing to boot. In order to qualify you will need to pass a series of tests carried out in the dental surgery, people with a strong and wide jaw bone are best suited to this dental solution. Digital x-rays and photos are taken, then measurements and a colour coding of the surrounding teeth. The tooth or teeth being replaced may still be in situ; they will need to be removed. If the test results are fine then you will be called back to the dentist, and the treatment will start. First off the surgeon will cut into the gum and expose the jaw bone, they will then either use self tapping screws or drill holes to take cylinders attached to the implant and glue it on. After stitching it back up, it is left for nature to take over. The research carried out in Sweden in the 1960s revealed that titanium and bone will react and produce a fusion of the two materials; this is what makes a dental implant very unique. The process is called Osseointergration, and can take anything from three to six months to complete. The implant becomes part of the jaw bone and is therefore a natural root for a tooth to be fitted to. The next part is to attach the abutments, these are the stands that the artificial teeth will be fixed to, and an dental implant can have one abutment or several according to the patient’s requirements. The final stage is the making of and the fitting of the actual false tooth, this is made by an orthodontist to copy the shape of the original molar. It is made from a hard wearing ceramic material and shaded to suit; finally it is slid onto the abutment and pressed down with glue. The patient will need to adjust their chewing habits to fit in with their new teeth, but this will take just a few weeks at worst. Brushing and flossing remains the same as for your natural teeth.