Teeth aid in chewing and digestion, clear speech, and gives your face its shape. They are also the greatest ingredient of the beautiful smiles you see around.
Unfortunately, tooth loss is a common problem globally. According to reports, adults between the ages of 20 to 64 have at least eight missing teeth, while 3.75% of them do not have any teeth remaining. That’s scary but doesn’t mean the end of beautiful faces and smiles.
Different types of dental implants offer complete tooth replacement and act like normal roots. They also aid all tooth functioning, prevent jawbone loss, and reshape the face. For a more in-depth description with photos, check out North Cardiff Dental & Implants website. Here you can see clear pictures and get a better understanding of how implant work.
Here are the different dental implants you can consider today.
The Main Types of Dental Implants
There are only three types of dental implants. The first two, endosteal and subperiosteal, are the most common types used in the dental industry. Zygomatic implants are also options for qualifying patients.
1. Endosteal Implants
Endosteal implants are the most common, safest, effective, and best for stable, natural-feeling results. They’re made from titanium and come in three different forms – threaded (screw types), smooth (cylinder types), and bladed types.
Fixing these implants entails drilling into the jawbone to insert the titanium screw (artificial root). You’ll then wait for a couple of months for the soft tissue and bone to heal and bond with the root before completing your treatment.
While they’re safe and effective, endosteal implants aren’t for you if your jawbone ridge is naturally shorter or narrower. They depend on a healthy and sufficient jawbone for support.
The shortness or narrowness of the jawbone ridge can be natural or a result of several factors, like diseases or trauma. Dental conditions like periodontitis and cavity can significantly affect the quality of your jawbone.
This article from bristlehealth.com will help you understand if you’re at risk of suffering from a tooth cavity.
2. Subperiosteal Implants
These implants are not widely used like their endosteal counterparts. They initially helped in holding dentures for patients with insufficient bone height.
The subperiosteal implants are inserted beneath the gum, but above or on the jawbone. Thus, your prosthodontist won’t have to drill your jawbone. They’re the best dental implants if your jawbone isn’t healthy or you prefer not to undergo bone augmentation for many reasons.
However, they’re less stable compared to endosteal implants, given that they depend on soft tissues for support. Still, they offer better support than having dentures with no implants.
3. Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants are the least common today. They’re some of the most complex dental procedures and are only suitable if you don’t qualify for endosteal implants (you don’t have enough and healthy jawbone).
Unlike endosteal, zygomatic implants are placed into the cheekbones.
Types of Dental Implants in Terms of Coatings, Sizes, and Connectors
Dental implants come in various coatings, sizes, and connectors to boost their functionality. Your prosthodontist will choose the right option for you, depending on the uniqueness of your condition, your preferences, and your health.
Coatings
Manufacturers typically add a slight touch of roughness to the surface to boost implant strength and seamlessly healing.
The different types of dental implant coatings include Zirconia, grit-blasted, acid-etched, and plasma-sprayed titanium and roughened surfaces.
Connectors
Dental implants can also fall into three categories, depending on how they screw into the abutment. For example, the internal hex connectors have a hexagonal shape and protrude above the implant head, rather than inside.
Similarly, there are external hex connectors. They also have a hexagonal shape, but come with an opening for screwing the abutment at the end. There are also internal octagon connectors, which have an octagonal shape and an opening for fitting.
Dental Implant Sizes
Dental implants come in different sizes. The most suitable size for your case depends on where the prosthodontist places it in your mouth, the availability of the jawbone, and your unique dental structure.
These include:
1. Standard Platforms
The standard implants are the most preferred for the front teeth. They’re shorter and narrower enough to match the size of these teeth.
2. Mini or Narrow Body
The mini or narrow body implants are suitable for patients with insufficient space between teeth. Similarly, these implants can offer temporary support while larger dental implants heal, or help where you have less bone density.
3. Wide Platforms
The wide platform implants are specially designed to go at the back of your mouth. Their diameter ranges between 4.5mm and 6mm.
Types of Dental Implants According to Placement Method
The strength of your jawbone, alongside your specific needs, determines which kind of implant methods are suitable for you. These may include:
1. All-On-4
All-on-4 implants are ideal alternatives to a full arch (placement of bottom and top self-replacement teeth). Instead of bone grafting, your prosthodontist places four dental implants in the available bone. Then, they use a special abutment to replace temporary teeth on the same day.
However, you’ll need to observe a modified diet until the implants heal and bond with your natural bone and gum tissues.
2. Immediate Load Implants
Immediate load implants are sometimes called Teeth in a Day. Unlike most methods, these implants don’t require healing time and allow you to walk out of your first appointment with your artificial teeth.
However, the first teeth you get are temporary and will be in place till your implant heals, and bone gets healthy enough to support the permanent ones.
3. Two-stage Dental Implants
In this case, your first appointment involves a surgical procedure to insert the implant into your jawbone. After some months of healing, you go back for additional minor surgery for attaching the abutment and replacement (crown).
4. Mini Implants
They’re also referred to as small or narrow implants and help in preventing shifting in the lower jaw. Prosthodontists use less-invasive techniques to place these toothpick-sized implants to stabilize your lower denture.
5. Multiple Implants
Multiple implants offer a suitable way to cover up several missing teeth, especially if you’re not ready for a full arch. Your dentist will place them only in areas with larger gaps to fill the spaces.
6. Single-Tooth Implants
Do you have one or a few missing teeth? Then a single implant can be an excellent fit for the gap.
7. Single-Stage Implants
The process of placing a single-stage implant is almost similar to two-stage implants. But, the single-stage implant caps remain visible, so you don’t require additional surgery during the attachment of temporary restoration and abutment.
Get Your Smile Back
There are numerous types of dental implants to help you get a new set of virtually real, strong, and naturally-feeling teeth for a lifetime. However, you have a responsibility to care for them properly.
Caring for your new teeth isn’t anything different from what you’ve been doing. Maintain frequent dentist visits, brush, and floss daily to keep them clean and healthy.
Keep visiting this blog to learn more about your general health and oral care.
