Dental implants providers glossary

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

What is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon?: A board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a dentist who has completed a hospital-based surgical residency and passed rigorous national board exams certifying expertise in complex tooth extraction, implant placement, jaw surgery, and related procedures.
What is a bone graft in dentistry?: A bone graft is a surgical procedure that adds bone material to the jaw to increase bone volume and density, allowing patients with insufficient bone structure to receive dental implants.
What is a cone beam CT scan?: A cone beam CT scan is a three-dimensional dental imaging technology that uses a cone-shaped X-ray beam to capture detailed cross-sectional images of jaw bone, teeth, and surrounding structures.
What is a dental implant abutment?: A dental implant abutment is the connector piece that attaches to the titanium implant post and holds the replacement crown or prosthetic tooth in place.
What is a mini dental implant?: A mini dental implant is a small-diameter titanium screw, typically 3 to 4 mm wide, used to anchor dentures or replace individual teeth in areas with limited bone volume.
What is a sinus lift?: A sinus lift is an oral surgical procedure that elevates the membrane lining the maxillary sinus and adds bone material beneath it to increase available bone height for dental implant placement in the upper back jaw.
What is All-on-4?: All-on-4 is a full-mouth dental implant technique that uses four implants positioned at strategic angles to support a fixed prosthesis for an entire dental arch.
What is All-on-6?: All-on-6 is a full-arch dental implant restoration in which six implants are positioned along the jawbone to support a permanent prosthetic arch of teeth.
What is an immediate load implant?: An immediate load implant is a dental implant that receives a temporary crown restoration the same day it is surgically placed in the jawbone, rather than waiting months for osseointegration to complete.
What is an implant crown?: An implant crown is the custom-made, tooth-shaped cap that sits on top of a dental implant abutment to restore the appearance and function of a missing tooth.
What is an implant healing cap?: An implant healing cap is a temporary cover placed on top of a dental implant fixture after placement to direct gum tissue growth during the healing period before final crown restoration.
What is an implant-supported bridge?: A fixed dental prosthetic that spans multiple missing teeth and is anchored to two or more dental implants instead of natural teeth.
What is an implant-supported denture?: An implant-supported denture is a removable or fixed prosthetic tooth replacement anchored to dental implants placed in the jawbone rather than resting on the gums alone.
What is bone density grading (D1-D4)?: Bone density grading (D1-D4) is a classification system dentists use to categorize the quality and strength of jawbone tissue before placing dental implants, ranging from very dense (D1) to very soft (D4) bone.
What is digital implant planning and guided surgery?: Digital implant planning is a computer-aided process using 3D imaging and surgical guides to predetermine the precise position, angle, and depth of dental implant placement before drilling occurs.
What is extraction socket preservation?: Extraction socket preservation is the placement of bone graft material into a tooth socket immediately following extraction to slow bone loss and maintain socket volume for later implant placement.
What is guided bone regeneration?: Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a surgical technique using a barrier membrane to direct and stimulate new bone formation at sites where insufficient bone exists for dental implant placement.
What is implant failure?: Implant failure is the loss of a dental implant due to failed osseointegration (bone fusion) or deterioration after placement, resulting from infection, poor bone quality, or other biological complications.
What is IV sedation?: IV sedation is the administration of sedative medications through the bloodstream via a vein to produce deep relaxation during dental implant procedures, allowing patients to remain conscious but unaware of the procedure.
What is nitrous oxide sedation?: Nitrous oxide sedation is a mild form of dental anesthesia delivered by inhaling a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen through a nose mask, used to reduce anxiety during implant procedures.
What is osseointegration?: Osseointegration is the process by which bone tissue fuses directly to a titanium dental implant, creating a stable foundation for the restoration.
What is peri-implantitis?: Peri-implantitis is an infection and inflammation of the gum tissue and bone surrounding a dental implant, analogous to gum disease around natural teeth.
What is ridge augmentation?: Ridge augmentation is a surgical procedure that adds bone to the jaw ridge to restore its width or height, enabling successful dental implant placement when natural bone has been lost.
What is the difference between titanium and zirconia implants?: Titanium and zirconia are the two main biocompatible materials used for dental implant posts, each with distinct mechanical properties and clinical advantages that influence a dentist's material selection.