21 May Different Types of Dental Implants

Many people may find going to a dentist intimidating.

That is most likely because they simply are not exactly sure about what procedures are going to happen. Some people may fear that going to a dentist is going to be extremely painful and have a fear of the unknown.

One of the best things to do to help this anxiety is to simply understand the ins and outs of your procedure, which will give you some clarity.

Dental Implant related visits are some of the most common types. But there’s more to dental implants than you think. Here’s a look at different types of dental implants:

What is a Dental Implant?

That may seem like an incredibly obvious question, but it may help to actually refresh your memory.

To put things real simple, a dental implant is an artificial tooth that is “screwed” into your jaw. People get dental implants for many reasons, but it often includes things like broken teeth, missing teeth, rotten teeth and so on.

Dental implants have been around since the early stages of mankind. Ancient civilizations tried to replace teeth with wood, metal, ivory and various other materials. 

The way a dental implant is installed is based on the type of implant. In pretty much every case, the patient will either be put fully to sleep or in a semi-conscious state (meaning that won’t feel any pain or remember). The dentist then makes some room inside your gums and begins the surgery.

There are parts to a dental implant too. Implants will always feature a “screw” type base, which is inserted into the jaw and acts like a root. The abutment is the part that connects the fake crown to the actual screw. Finally, the crown is the artificial tooth.

The Two Categories of Dental Implants

To understand dental implants even further, you need to know that there are two main types of dental implants.

• Endosteal implants

• Subperiosteal implants

Endosteal implants are usually the most popular type of dental implant and are definitely more common. These implants are shaped like screws. Endosteal implants are implants that are placed into the patient’s jawbone.

Subperiosteal implants are not as common and are used typically when someone has a shallow jawbone or if a dentist recommends a subperiosteal implant. These implants are still placed under the gum, but they are above the jawbone.

Single Implants

If there is only one tooth needing to be replaced, then a single tooth implant should be used. Just like other types of implants, a dentist will take measurements and assess the state of your entire jaw and teeth to figure out the best way to go about doing things.

Implant-Supported Bridges

Implant-Supported Bridges are good for patients that may have several missing teeth. A dental bridge would be attached to the side of a gap. The implant will then act as an anchor for a bridge.

All on 4 Dental Implants

If a patient happens to have many missing teeth then a dentist would typically recommend all on 4 dental implants. All on 4 implants act by replacing your entire lower or upper jaw. This is a permanent solution and will sometimes need to be removed for cleaning.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Having no teeth inside of the human mouth will eventually lead to some bone loss and weakening. You will have to “replace” a lot of the bone matter that has deteriorated with the plastic of the removable denture.

Dentures can sit firmly, snug and securely if you use implant-supported dentures. Basically, these dentures are secured over the jaw thanks to the implant screws that join them together. Cleaning and maintenance can still occur since they can be removed and taken care of by a professional dentist.

This type of denture has started to rise in popularity thanks to the modern conveniences that it can bring.

Conclusion

With the world that we live in today, there is no need to fear having missing teeth. There are several different ways to go about treating missing or damaged teeth. The act of dentistry has been around for an astonishingly long amount of time, so there has been so much evolution in the techniques used.

To recap, the most common types of dental implants are:

• Single implants
• Implant-supported bridges 
• All on 4 dental implants
• Implant-supported dentures