2 Types of Dental Implants That Are Available to You
If you have a missing tooth or have a tooth that needs to be removed, one option for replacement is a dental implant. Dental implants are titanium replacements for the root of your natural tooth. The implant bonds with the jawbone over time, providing a foundation for a crown or bridge. Because titanium is bio-inert, the real bone in your jaw will think that it’s real bone as well, making it easier to bond and reducing the risk of rejection.
Why You Should Consider Dental Implants
If you haven’t considered dental implants yet, you should. The following are just a handful of ways in which you could benefit from dental implants:
- Complete your smile – A visible gap in your smile as a result of a missing tooth can have a negative effect on your confidence. The more confident you are in your smile, the more you’ll smile. If you begin losing confidence in your smile due to the aesthetic look of the missing tooth, you’ll end up smiling less, which could also affect how people perceive you.
- Make chewing easier – If you’re missing teeth in the back of your mouth, it can make it more difficult to chew food, causing both discomfort and inconvenience.
- Keep teeth from shifting – When you lose a tooth or have a tooth removed, the surrounding teeth will begin shifting in order to fill in the gap. This can cause a number of problems. First of all, shifting teeth can result in a more crooked smile. Secondly, your teeth could end up crowding one another or becoming unevenly spaced, making them more difficult to clean.
- Prevent your jawbone from deteriorating – If you choose to get a fixed bridge instead of a dental implant, there will be more of a risk that your jawbone will begin to deteriorate under the missing tooth as a result of inadequate stimulation to the bone, which is a result of the missing tooth root.
Two Types of Dental Implants
Not all dental implants are the same. There are several different types of dental implants that you can choose from. Here at Dr. Manuel Stefan Prosthodontist, we offer our patients the option of two different dental implants—endosteal implants and subperiosteal implants.
- Endosteal implants – Endosteal implants are implants that are surgically fitted directly into your jawbone. Once the implant is in the jawbone, you’ll need to wait for the gum tissue around the implant to heal. Once all the tissue has healed, a second surgery will be required. During this surgery, a post will be connected to the original implant. Once this is done, an artificial tooth can be attached to the post, either individually or grouped together on a denture or a bridge.
- Subperiosteal implants – Subperiosteal implants are a bit different in that they consist of a metal frame that is implanted below the gum tissue directly onto the jawbone. As your gums heal, the metal frame will become attached to the jawbone. Fixed to the frame are posts, which will protrude through your gums. Artificial teeth can then be mounted onto the posts.
These are the two types of dental implants that we can perform here at our dental practice. Both of these procedures are considered safe by the American Dental Association and are effective ways to replace lost teeth.
For more information about getting dental implants or to schedule an appointment at our family dentistry, be sure to contact us at Dr. Manuel Stefan Prosthodontist today. We can help you determine what type of dental implant is best for you.
