Patients with missing teeth apply for implant treatment due to aesthetic concerns and chewing disorders. There are many types of dental implants used during this treatment. Implant types and implant brands are also shaped by the development of technology and offer patients an easier treatment option.
Dental implants offer individuals a complete restoration option for missing teeth. It is a complete denture that acts like artificial roots to support full function and stop or prevent jaw loss.
Dental implants replace the roots of missing teeth, giving people the strength and stability they need to eat their favorite foods without the hassle of chewing while helping to preserve facial features.
Different Types of Dental Implants
Each type of dental implant has different veneers, connectors, and size options for the dentist to choose from. Although there are several different methods of implant placement, the different types usually fall into two categories.
Endosteal (Endosseous) Implants
Endosteal is the most commonly used type of dental implant. They are sometimes used as an alternative to a bridge or removable dentures. Endosteal implants include screw (threaded), cylinder (smooth), and vane types. The dentist helps determine which type of dental implant will work best for the person. Endosteal implants are safe, effective and the most popular type of treatment used today.
Intrabony implantation begins with screwing the implant into the jawbone, which requires adequate jawbone health and density. An endosseous implant may not be the right type of treatment if the patient has a short or narrow jaw structure that is congenital, and worn out by trauma or disease. In this case, a subperiosteal implant is another option.
Subperiosteal Implants:
Subperiosteal implants are rarely used today. In the past, they were mainly used to fix prostheses in patients with insufficient bone height. Subperiosteal implants are placed from the gums to the jawbone within the gingival tissue with a metal implant post to support the prosthesis.
- Treatment: General treatment for subperiosteal implants is two sessions and is typically a much shorter treatment program than an endosseous implant treatment.
- Stability: Subperiosteal implants do not have the same stability as the implant does not enter the jawbone but rests on the bone and is held in place only by soft tissue. Although it offers more support than implant fewer dentures, it is still less stable.
Dental Implant Veneers
Dentists have many options for determining the right treatment for specific patient needs.
Veneers: There are different types of veneers or surface treatments your implants can have. Even though the actual implant is made of titanium, the material the outer veneer is used may vary.
Why is a coating needed?
Increasing the surface roughness allows the implant to heal smoothly and be stronger than ever before. Coatings contribute more to bone strength than a machined titanium surface.
Available Types of Dental Implant Veneers:
Although zirconium is a metal, it is a transition metal. Unlike titanium and many other types of metals, it is usually white and ceramic in appearance.
Dental Implant Connectors:
Any dental implant requires that the screw or implant be in the jawbone and connected to the upper abutment (denture connector).
There are three main types of connectors:
- Internal Hexagon Connectors: The hexagonal connector is an opening in the implant head into which the restoration/abutment is screwed
- External Hex Connectors: Again, this type of hexagonal connector is on the implant head, not inside.
- Internal Octagon Connectors: An octagonal internal octagon connector has an opening on the implant into which the restoration/abutment is screwed.
Sizing Your Dental Implants:
Where the implant will be placed in the mouth determines the size of the implant needed. Because every mouth is different, individual space requirements and bone availability may require the use of different sizes of implants.
- standard Platform:Standard dental implants are shorter and narrower to match the size of the teeth at the front of the mouth, ranging from 3.5mm to 4.2mm.
- Wide Platform: Dental implants with wide platforms are first placed in the back of the mouth and fit in the mouth and their diameters vary between 4.5 mm and 6 mm.
- Mini or Narrow Body: If the patient does not have enough space between the existing teeth, small or narrow body implants can be used, which can also be used as temporary support in cases where the patient’s bone density is insufficient or while larger dental implants are healing.
Different Methods of Dental Implants
There are implant alternatives that may work depending on the strength and specific condition of the jawbone. These types are used instead of or in addition to traditional dental implants. Common dental implant methods include:
- Instant Loading Dental Implants: Emergency loading implants allow immediate departure from the clinic with completed teeth without the time typically required for healing. The first teeth removed are temporary until the implant heals, and a healthy bone structure is obtained to support a permanent prosthesis.
- All-on-4 (or 5 or 6): This type is ideal for people who have lost most or all of their teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease. It allows implant placement without bone grafting with a set of temporary teeth placed on the same day or in a short period of time.
- Single Tooth Implants: This is ideal for those who are missing one or more teeth. A single implant can fill the gap and provide the patient with teeth that look and function flawlessly.
- Multiple Implants: Multiple implants can be used only in areas with large cavities, where there are several missing teeth that create larger spaces, yet not all teeth need to be replaced.
- Two-Stage Dental Implants: This is a typical procedure for the types of dental implants described above. On the first day, a surgical procedure is performed to place the implant in the jawbone. A few months later, minor surgery is performed to attach an abutment and tooth (crown).
- Mini Implants: These are small or narrow diameter implants that can be placed with less invasive techniques to stabilize the lower prosthesis.