If you are wondering what are the different types of dental implants, then you have come to the right place. Implants are differentiated by their heights, types and sizes. You will need to know these to decide what works for you.
What are the Different Types of Dental Implants
This piece explores the types of implants and how they are used on patients, depending on their specific needs and state of health.
Variations of Implants
There are two distinctive types of implants out there;
- Endosteal implants-These are quite common. They are set in titanium and habitually placed in the jawbone
- Subperiosteal implants-You will find these under the gum but they will be above or right on the jawbone. Dentists advise these for people whose jawbones are not healthy enough for the procedure. It is still possible for these patients to get the implants if they agree to a jawbone rebuilding procedure.
If you are in the category of patients whose jawbones cannot support the weight of implants, there are ways to get that fixed. Below is a look at the possible approaches;
- Bone augmentation-this is a procedure whose function is to regenerate or restore bones in your jaw. Studies and experiments have shown that growth factors and additives can be used to fortify a bone to a highly satisfactory degree.
- Sinus lift/elevation/augmentation-in this procedure, bone is added under the sinus. This is done in situations where your natural bone has wasted away as a result of the lack of upper back teeth. You will mostly likely be sedated for this operation.
- Ridge expansion- for some people, the jaw is too narrow for dental implants. Here, a small space or ridge is built into the top of your jaw. After that, bone graft material is inserted.
Treatment Planning and 3D Imaging
There now exist top drawer technologies that are highly accurate when it comes to 3d imaging and implant surgery projections. Dentists are now using these pieces of hard and software to look at the inside of your jaws and decide when implants need to go. This significantly boosts the success potential of surgery and saves on costs.
Other Dental Implant approaches
Below are some alternative dental treatment approaches
- All-on-4
With this approach, 4 implants will be inserted into the available bone, and this does away with the need for bone grafting. The dentist will then introduce special abutments, allowing for the placement of temporary teeth a few hours later. The patient is advised to resort to a modified diet to allow their gum to heal. This also make sure that the implants bond with the bones of your jaw.
- Mini dental implants (MDIs)
Narrow diameter implants, as MDIs are also known, are implants that come in the size of toothpicks. They are way narrower than anything you might have seen in the dental implants space. Their roles is to stabilize a lower denture, which is why the procedure is less invasive. these small-sized implants are narrower than most others used dental implants.
- Immediate Load Dental Implants
These allow the professionals to place temporary teeth the same day you get your dental implant placement.
If you have been wondering ‘what are the different types of dental implants?’ then your answer is right up there, and your dentist will be able to fill in the gaps-quite literally so! Overall, remember to keep good oral hygiene, this will help prevent cavities and other dental problems in the future.