Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Types of Dental Implants


If you have lost teeth due to injury or disease, the best permanent solution is dental implants. There are two major types of implants and a few alternatives. What an implant dentistry journal online recommends varies depending on several factors unique to the individual patient. For example, some patients’ jawbones aren’t strong enough to support heavier implants. Here are the most common types and a few alternatives.

Endosteal Implants

Endosteal implants are the most common types of dental implants and are generally considered the most durable and effective. They are shaped like small screws and made of titanium. Endosteal implants are topped with a false tooth. Dental surgeons implant them directly into the patient’s jawbone after administering a local anesthetic like Novocain, or, if the dentist practices sedation dentistry, general anesthesia.

Subperiosteal Implants

For patients whose natural jawbone is not strong or healthy enough to support endosteal implants, subperiosteal implants are often used. They are placed under the patient’s gums. This means they are either on or above the jawbone, as opposed to being screwed into it. They take less time to install, but as you may imagine, they tend to not be as long-lasting and stable. They also do not have the more natural feel of endosteal implants.


If a patient wants endosteal implants but doesn’t have a healthy enough jawbone, alternatives to subperiosteal implants include bone augmentation in which growth is stimulated or restored in the jaw. Another method is ridge expansion, where a small ridge is added along the top of the jaw to widen it.
A process called a sinus lift (or sinus elevation, or sinus augmentation) adds bone under the sinus. This is done if a person is missing their upper back teeth, due to the natural bone deteriorating.
Beyond implants, patients can opt for prosthetics like bridges, but they vary in quality and dependability

Author: verified_user