Over 50? Keeping Up With Your Healthcare Needs

What Are The Different Types Of Dental Implants?

29 October 2015

Nellie Ryan

Dental implants have become a very popular way of replacing damaged teeth so that they look and feel more natural. Implants are permanent and do not have to be removed when brushing. They also allow a person to chew more naturally without the problem of having food get under their teeth, which commonly occurs when wearing dentures. There are different types of dental implants and they differ somewhat in how they are installed. These are the most commonly installed types of dental implants.

Two-Stage Dental Implants 

This type of implant procedure involves two surgical stages. First, the implant is placed into the jawbone and stitched closely to the gum tissue. After several months of healing, a second surgical procedure is performed. During this surgery, the gums are cut open enough to expose the implant so that the abutment and the artificial tooth can be attached. 

One-Stage Dental Implants 

During this procedure, a longer type of implant is inserted into the jawbone so that it lies on the bone. This allows the implant to be level with the gum line. When the gum tissue is stitched closed, the top of the implant is visible above the gums. After the gums have healed, the abutment and the artificial tooth can be attached without an additional surgical procedure.

Endosteal Implants 

Endosteal implants are the most common type of implants used for the two-stage procedure. These implants are often used in partial sections to replace a bridge or partial denture. They are available in screwed types, smooth cylinder types and bladed types.

Subperiosteal Implants

Subperiosteal implants are placed within the gum tissue on the jawbone. The metal post is left exposed above the gum tissue so that the artificial teeth can be attached to it. This is the most common type of one-stage implant procedure that is performed. It is also used to hold dentures in place for those who do not have the necessary bone height for traditional dental implants.

Before getting any type of dental implant, the patient will need to have his gum tissue and jawbones thoroughly examined. In order to be a good candidate for this procedure, the gum tissue cannot be extremely thin. The jawbones must also be strong enough to hold the implants in place as well. Those who have dental implants installed often find they are much more enjoyable to wear than dentures or partial plates because they feel more like natural teeth and cannot be removed.

For more information, contact a doctor like those at the Oral Surgery Center.

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