What Are The Common Types Of Dental Implants Used?
Your natural teeth perform numerous essential functions for your oral and overall well-being. For instance, healthy teeth allow you to speak and enjoy your favorite foods without discomfort or difficulties.
Over time, you can lose your natural teeth from different factors such as dental trauma, natural aging, tooth decay, and gum disease. Unfortunately, missing teeth can significantly impact oral health, function, and appearance.
For that reason, replacing missing teeth as soon as possible is recommended. Dental implants offer a reliable and long-term option to replace one or more missing teeth. Let’s learn more about dental implants and their types.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a titanium screw attached to the jawbone through surgery. The implant posts replace the lost teeth roots. Unlike alternate replacement procedures like bridges and dentures, the implant fuses with the jawbone, becoming a permanent part of your mouth. It also provides a stable foundation for the outer artificial tooth or crown.
While dental implants have a high success rate, they aren’t ideal for all individuals. Among other qualifications, you must have healthy gums and jawbone, have excellent oral and overall health, be a non-smoker, and have an excellent oral hygiene routine. While not meeting all these requirements won’t entirely disqualify you for the procedure, they can increase the risk of implant failure.
You should begin by scheduling an appointment with our dentist in l4z 2v4 for an exam. If you’re eligible, the dentist will discuss further details, like the treatment plan, costs, and expectations. Contact our dentist near you for dental implants in Mississauga, ON.
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants have different types and techniques. Your dentist will help you determine the best implant based on your condition and goals. Often, the dentist will consider factors such as the number of missing teeth, the surrounding teeth’ health, and the jawbone’s strength.
Below are the three main types of dental implants:
- Endosteal Implants
They are the most common and stable types of dental implants. Endosteal implants consist of tiny screw-like posts that are fixed into the jawbone of the missing teeth. The jawbone heals around the implant in a process called osseointegration.
You need healthy gums and jawbone that can sufficiently support the implant. If you have insufficient or damaged jawbone, your dentist can recommend getting a bone graft to repair and rebuild it. Then, you will qualify for dental implant surgery.
- Subperiosteal implants
If you don’t like the invasive nature of endosteal implants or don’t have sufficient jawbone to support one, you can consider subperiosteal implants.
Instead of being fixed into the jawbone, these implants rest on top of the jawbone but are still below the gums. The gums heal around the implant to hold it in place. Then, the artificial teeth are fixed to the poles of the gums. Subperiosteal implants are less stable than endosteal implants.
- Zygomatic implants
You can consider zygomatic implants if you can’t qualify for the first two dental implants. They are the rarest and most complicated dental implants to place. Instead of placing the dental implant on or into the jawbone, it’s placed on the cheekbone.
Other Dental Implant Techniques
If you can’t qualify for any of the above dental implants, your dentist can suggest certain techniques to improve your chances. These can include:
- Bone Augmentation. It involves using bone additives to restore the health and strength of your jawbone.
- Sinus lift. It involves adding new bone below the sinuses that have deteriorated for missing upper back teeth.
- Ridge Expansion. If the jaw isn’t wide enough to support a dental implant, the dentist can graft new materials on your jaw.
Other Dental Implant Techniques
- Immediate load dental implants. It involves placing the artificial tooth the same day the implant post is placed.
- Mini dental implants. These are extra narrow implants that stabilize a lower denture.
- All-on-4 dental implants. Instead of multiple single dental implant surgeries, you can get All-on-4 implants. It involves using four or more dental implants to support a complete set of artificial teeth on the upper or lower jaw.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Ready to replace your missing teeth with dental implants? Contact Dr. Ilana Wurman – Mississauga, ON.