Dental implants are small metal posts surgically placed on a patient’s jawbone and gum tissue. Their main purpose is to act as an artificial tooth root and function as your natural teeth. If you are missing one or more of your teeth and are looking for ways to achieve a more beautiful smile, this treatment may be for you.
This article enumerates and differentiates the types or classifications of dental implants to help you decide which tooth implant option suits your needs.
4 Types Of Dental Implants
There are four most common types of dental implants, as follows:
- Endosteal Implants
These are the most popular choice of dentists and patients. It is done by drilling in the jawbone below the gums. Since they are not directly connected to the artificial teeth, a post is placed on top of them once the gum has healed. Over time, it will bond with your natural bone. This allows a strong base for the replacement teeth (or prosthetic teeth), either a dental crown, dental bridge or fixed or removable dentures. While waiting for your incision site to heal, your dentist will place a temporary tooth before finally putting your permanent teeth. However, these are only recommended if you have enough bone to support the implants. - Subperiosteal Implants
These implants are placed on top of the jawbone instead of being inserted into it. They lie under the thin tissue between the gum and the bone. They are ideal for patients suffering from bone loss, making them unsuitable for endosteal implants.These dental implants can help you avoid bone grafting because the metal frame will fuse to the existing bone. The abutment is then placed on top of the frame, followed by a replacement or false teeth. The recovery time for subperiosteal is quicker than the other types. However, this tooth implant option is invasive and is prone to recurrent infection around the posts that protrude through the gum tissue.
- Transosteal Implants
Transosteal implants are the least common classification of dental implants, but they can be a good option for patients who do not have sufficient bone height. This procedure involves drilling a hole into the lower or upper jawbone and placing a rod through it.The bar is left sticking out on both sides of the mouth so that an artificial tooth can be attached to each end. Like subperiosteal implants, transosteal implants can also help you avoid bone grafting.
- Zygomatic Implants
These are the least common type of dental implants. They are placed in the cheek bones instead of the jawbone. They are ideal for patients who have lost teeth in the upper jaw, particularly the back molars, and do not have enough bone to support endosteal implants.They can also help you avoid a sinus lift, which is a common procedure done before placing dental implants in the upper jaw.
Can Dental Implants Be Placed In A Day?
The implant placement can last 1 to 2 hours, but the healing time takes up to 6 months. Overall, you can complete this treatment in 8 months up to a year, depending on the type of dental implant.
Which Dental Implant Is The Most Durable?
Dental implants can be made of two materials: titanium and zirconia. A titanium implant is the most durable and long-lasting but is also the most expensive option. On the other hand, zirconia-based implants have lower risks of allergic reactions because they are highly biocompatible. However, it’s worth noting that without proper care, your dental implant’s lifespan can shorten than it should.
Which Dental Implant Type Is Right For Me?
The types of implant suitable for you depends on many factors. These include the number of teeth to be replaced, your budget and the state of your jawbone. If you have sufficient jaw bone, your dentist may recommend endosteal implants. If you experience bone loss, subperiosteal or transosteal implants can be an option.
Final Thoughts
Dental implants are small metal posts used in an implant surgical procedure, to act and function as your real teeth. They provide a solid foundation for your replacement or fake teeth, such as dental crowns, bridges or dentures. There are a few tooth implant options to choose from, depending on your specific condition. You and your dentist will work together to create an implant treatment plan.
If you think dental implant surgery can improve your quality of life, call us at 08 6185 0200 to book a consultation.
During your appointment, one of the dentists at Ellen Stirling Dental will assess your overall oral health or entire mouth and determine if you are a good candidate for the implant procedure. If you are, they will discuss the classifications of dental implants, as well as the benefits of each and the risks. This way, you are guided to the best decision for your smile. You can also get an accurate estimate of the procedure’s cost so you can prepare financially.
FAQs
One implant can support one tooth, which is a procedure called the single tooth dental implant. But sometimes, a single implant can support two adjacent teeth if you have sufficient jaw bone.
In general, someone with good overall mouth condition is a good candidate for implants. This includes having an adequate bone to support the implants, no active gum disease, having healthy teeth and can commit to good oral hygiene. Also, while there is no age restriction, you should be old enough that your teeth have stopped growing. Most of all, you must not have health conditions or take medications that can increase the risk of implant failure and interfere with the healing process. You may still be eligible if you have bone loss, but a bone graft procedure may be necessary before proceeding with the implant treatment. Also, if you have dental issues like tooth decay, periodontal disease and damaged tooth, your dentist needs to address them first before implant surgery.
Dental implants are designed to be as realistic as possible. Many people cannot tell that you have dental implants just by looking at your teeth. In addition, dental implants can be matched to the colour of your natural teeth so they will blend in seamlessly. However, you must remember that there are chances of implant failure weeks, months or even years after your surgery. This can result from several factors, including your oral hygiene, lifestyle and habits, accidents, or medical conditions you acquire along the way. Also, dental implants are not a permanent solution to missing teeth. You have to replace them after they have reached their maximum lifespan.
If you’re not a good candidate for this treatment, you can opt for other dental treatments such as implant-supported bridges, flippers, resin bonded bridges, dental bridges and traditional dentures. Dentures could be partial dentures, full dentures or implant-retained dentures. These procedures are also effective in improving your smile and restoring your confidence. However, they are not as durable as implants and may need to be replaced sooner. In addition, they may not function as well as your natural teeth like dental implants.
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