What is the process called when living jaw bone grows around a dental implant?

The process when living jaw bone grows around a dental implant is known as osseointegration. This is a critical aspect of implant dentistry, as it involves the direct structural and functional connection between the living bone and the surface of the dental implant.

During osseointegration, the bone cells migrate to the implant surface and begin to form a stable and secure bond. This bonding is essential for the success of the implant, providing the necessary support that mimics the natural tooth root. It typically takes several weeks to months for the bone to fully integrate with the implant, during which the mechanical stability of the implant increases substantially.

Understanding osseointegration is important because it emphasizes the biological interaction between implant materials and human tissue, which directly influences the longevity and effectiveness of dental implants. Other processes such as osteogenesis, which refers to the formation of new bone tissue, and bone remodeling, involving the continual process of bone resorption and formation, are part of the broader picture of bone health but do not specifically describe the direct bonding to an implant. The term osteointegration is actually less commonly used in the literature, with osseointegration being the more established and recognized term.