What Are The 3 Types of Dental Implants?

What Are The 3 Types of Dental Implants?

May 01, 2023

What Are Dental Implants?

They are small, screw-shaped biocompatible metal posts featuring materials, such as titanium or zirconia, that replace missing teeth. They feature three components: the implant, the abutment, and the crown, affixed through a prolonged timeline and intricate procedure, which explains the high dental implant cost.

Types of Dental Implants

  1. Endosteal implants – are the most popular dental implants, typically featuring titanium or zirconia. They erect directly into the jawbone and fuse with the bone over time through osseointegration. Afterward, an abutment covers the implant, which supports the dental crown or other restoration.
  2. Subperiosteal implants – are on top of the jawbone but under the gum tissue. They consist of a metal frame that attaches to the jawbone as the posts protrude through the gum line to support a crown or other restoration. Subperiosteal implants are ideal for patients with insufficient bone density or height to support endosteal implants.
  3. Zygomatic implants – are specialized dental implants for patients with significant bone loss in the upper jaw, who might not otherwise be candidates for traditional implant placement. They are longer than traditional implants and are anchored in the dense bone of the cheekbone (zygoma) instead of the jawbone.

Exploring the Procedure of Getting Dental Implants

The steps entailed in the implantation surgery vary depending on the specific case and your individual needs. Therefore, the initial step of every treatment for dental implants near you involves a comprehensive dental exam. The dentist will examine your mouth and teeth, take X-rays, and discuss your medical history to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. Afterward, the following steps will follow:

  1. An incision in your gum tissue to access the jawbone underneath
  2. Drilling a small hole into your jawbone where the implant will erect
  3. Screwing the dental implant into the bone
  4. Stitching the gums to close the incision
  5. Healing and integration – is a process that needs between 3 and 4 months to occur. Your mouth will undergo osseointegration for the implant to integrate with your jawbone. Meanwhile, Shanaka L. Weerasooriya may place a temporary restoration on top of the implant to help maintain proper function and aesthetics.
  6. Abutment placement – is a small connector piece attached to the top of the implant, serving as the anchor for the final restoration.
  7. Final restoration – different dentists in dental clinics near you will complete your treatment uniquely depending on your needs. You can receive a dental crown, bridge, or denture attached to the abutment to make the implant look and function like your natural teeth.

How Many Teeth Can You Put On One Implant?

Ideally, one dental implant is ideal for restoring one missing tooth. Dentists rarely use implants to replace multiple teeth on their own. One implant with a dental crown replaces one tooth.

However, dentists can perform multiple tooth replacements with dental implants as long as they incorporate other oral devices like dental bridges and dentures. Replacing them would require careful planning and evaluation, considering different factors like the location and size of the metal post, the condition of the surrounding bone and gum tissue, and the type of restoration.

It is usually possible to replace multiple missing teeth with multiple dental implants. However, one dental implant will not equal one artificial tooth. Instead, one implant can support a maximum of three artificial teeth using a dental bridge or denture. You need extra dental implants for more than four missing teeth in a row.

​How Painful Is Getting a Dental Implant?

Generally, dental implants near you entail an invasive surgical procedure. Therefore, it will cause pain and discomfort during treatment. However, that would only be the case if dentists in Venice were not keen to incorporate medication and evolved technology during the implantation surgery.

Dentists employ sedation dentistry and local anesthesia to overcome pain and discomfort during dental implant treatment. The local anesthesia numbs your mouth around the area of the lost tooth. Meanwhile, the sedative calms and relaxes your body and mind to promote stillness during the surgery.

​How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

The longevity of any oral appliance and the success of the treatment is tied to various factors, particularly aftercare measures. Patients that pay close attention to their oral health after treatment have a greater chance of enjoying the long-term benefits of dental implants. Generally, a dental implant can last between 10 and 20 years. However, some recipients of dental implants at Tarpon Shore Dental – Venice can have them for their lifetime due to excellent aftercare dental measures.