Implant Fixture
The screw-shaped titanium or zirconia component surgically placed into the jawbone that serves as the artificial root of a dental implant.
Full Definition
The implant fixture is the endosseous (within-bone) portion of a dental implant system, typically fabricated from commercially pure titanium (cpTi) or titanium-zirconium alloy. It is threaded into prepared osteotomy sites and, following osseointegration, supports a prosthetic crown, bridge, or overdenture via an abutment. Editors must distinguish 'fixture' from 'abutment' and 'crown,' as the terms refer to distinct components. In formal clinical documentation, 'implant fixture' is preferred over the colloquial 'implant screw.'
Usage
Usage note: Prefer 'implant fixture' over 'implant screw' in formal clinical and regulatory documents. Never abbreviate to 'fixture' alone on first reference without context.
In Context
- "A 4.1 mm diameter implant fixture was placed in the site of the extracted maxillary lateral incisor." — Operative report
- "The implant fixture must be fully submerged beneath the mucosal flap during the initial healing phase." — Surgical protocol document