Types of Dental Implants Available For Tooth Replacement
A dental implant is a permanent alternative for tooth replacement. A dentist, like those at Kelmscott Dental, embeds this prosthesis right into your jaw the way the roots of your natural teeth would be. Once the dental implant has been surgically secured into the jawbone, it will not be visible, thus making it look more natural than other tooth replacement options such as dentures. The screw, which is the part of the implant that is embedded into your jaw, is made from titanium. This is because this metal is not only sturdy, but it is also biocompatible, meaning that patient will not have an adverse reaction to it. In addition, titanium is lightweight, so the implant will not feel heavy in your mouth. Although typically considered as a cosmetic dental procedure, dental implants are actually quite pertinent when it comes to tooth restoration. Here are some of the different types of dental implants available for tooth replacement.
Endosteal implants
These types of implants are commonly referred to as root form implants. This is because they are shaped similar to the natural root of your teeth. The endsoteal implant is embedded into the jawbone to provide a base for the artificial tooth that will be used for restoration. If you require multiple artificial teeth, then multiple endosteal implants will be used. However, it should be noted that this type of implant could only be used if our jawbone has sufficient width as well depth available for the screws. If your jaw were too small, then you would have to seek an alternative implant solution.
Plate implants
This is the second type of implant that dentists may use to restore missing teeth. They are suited for patients who have a narrow jaw, thus making it difficult to undergo bone grafting for the implantation process. The plate implant is flat and long, hence its name. For the implantation procedure, the dentist will set it onto the jawbone, then stitch up the gums to keep it in place. Once the gums have healed, the dentist can then proceed to attach the dental implants.
Sub-periosteal implants
These implants are recommended for patients whose jaws can neither support the endosteal implants nor have enough jawbone space for the plate implants. As such, sub-periosteal implants are custom made to suit the specific patient's needs. It is installed right above the jawbone but beneath the patient's gums. Since these implants need to be custom made, the dentist will have to take an impression of the patient's jawbone first. Thus, you will require two surgeries, as the second surgery would be to fit your implants.