What Are the Different Types of Dental Implants That Exist Today?

Did you know that approximately 158 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, with 40 million missing all of them? Missing teeth are not only an eyesore but also leads to eating problems and increases the risk of getting gum disease. The good news is that you can always replace missing teeth by getting dental implants.

Dental implants are among the best dental treatments available today. They look and feel natural, and last a lifetime. The right dental implants can also improve your speech and make eating food a lot easier.

But with so many types of dental implants, how do you know which one is right for you? Although that’s a question best answered by your dentists, knowing what to expect will help ease your dental anxiety and make the process a lot smoother.

In today’s post, we’ll be discussing the different types of dental implants available today.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are placed in your jaw to hold replacement teeth in place. They are made from titanium and other biocompatible materials that fuse with your bone over time.

Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth, several teeth, or all of your teeth. When replaced individually, they are called “single tooth implants.” When multiple dental implants are used to support a bridge or denture, they are called “multiple tooth implants” or “full arch implants.”

What Are the Types of Dental Implants?

Knowing the types of implants for your teeth will help you make a more informed decision when getting dental implants. Here are the major types of implants for your consideration.

Endosteal (Endosseous) Implants

These are among the most common types of implants for replacing missing teeth or dentures. The dentist inserts the endosteal implants directly into your jawbone. As such, they’re best suited for people who have healthy gums and enough bone to support the implants.

The first step is to surgically place the endosteal implant metal frame into your jawbone below the gum line. Once the area has healed, usually after a few months, your dentist will attach a small metal connector post, called an abutment, to the frame. This is what will hold your new tooth in place.

In some cases, your dentist may be able to attach the replacement tooth during the same visit. But if you need a bone graft or sinus lift first, it may take several months for the area to heal before the dentist can attach the abutment and tooth.

Endosteal implants have a success rate of about 99.4%, making them a great option for those looking for long-term results.

Advantages of Endosteal Implants

Endosteal implants are super popular because they’re super effective. Aside from their effectiveness, here are a few other benefits of endosteal implants.

High success rate: The success rate is quite high, making them a great option for those looking for long-term results.

Affordable: Endosteal implants are less expensive than other types of dental implants.

Disadvantages of Endosteal Implants

Despite their success rate and relative affordability, endosteal implants aren’t without their downsides. Here are a few cons of endosteal implants.

Lengthy healing time: The surgery for endosteal implants is very invasive and requires a longer healing time.

Risk of failure: There’s a greater risk of implant failure with endosteal implants.

Requires strong jawbone: Endosteal implants require a strong jawline to be successful, which not everyone has.

Despite these downsides, endosteal implants are still a great option for candidates that qualify for the treatment.

Subperiosteal Implants

Unlike endosteal implants, subperiosteal implants are placed on top of your jawbone under your gum tissue. The dentist will place a metal frame on top of your jawbone and leave it to heal for a few months. Once healed, the metal frame will protrude through your gum tissue.

This type of implant is best suited for people who have healthy gums but don’t have enough bone height for endosteal implants. They’re also a good option for people with medical conditions that prevent them from getting endosteal implants.

Advantages of Subperiosteal Implants

Subperiosteal implants offer a few advantages over other types of dental implants. Here are a few pros of subperiosteal implants.

Less invasive: Subperiosteal implants are less invasive than endosteal implants and don’t require as much healing time.

Doesn’t require a strong jawline: Subperiosteal implants don’t require a strong jawbone to support them. This makes them a good option for people with weak jawlines who can’t qualify for endosteal implants.

High success rate: The success rate for subperiosteal implants is also considerably high.

Disadvantages of Subperiosteal Implants

Subperiosteal implants also have a few disadvantages. Here are a couple of cons of subperiosteal implants.

More expensive: Subperiosteal implants tend to be more expensive than endosteal implants because they’re more complex to place.

Not as common: Subperiosteal implants are not as common as endosteal implants, so you may have a hard time finding a dentist who offers this type of treatment.

Dental Procedures Common With Dental Implants

In cases where candidates don’t qualify for dental implants, dentists might perform certain procedures to prepare patients for the implants. Some of these procedures include.

Bone grafting: Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that’s done to add bone to your jawbone. Dentists do this to prepare patients for endosteal implants.

Sinus lift: A sinus lift is a surgical procedure that’s done to raise your sinuses. Sinuses are air-filled cavities in the head. A sinus lift allows the addition of bone below the sinuses in cases where the bone matter may have deteriorated.

Ridge expansion: Some people have jaws that aren’t wide enough to support dental implants. In such cases, they may require ridge expansion. The dentist will create a small ridge along the top of your jaw and add graft material.

Are Dental Implants Necessary for Overbite?

While dental implants are great for some types of malocclusions, they may not be necessary for an overbite. Removing protruding teeth and replacing them with straight ones seem like a good idea. However, there are way better treatment alternatives.

You might want to consider braces or even Invisalign. You may be thinking “can Invisalign fix overbite or is it just a gimmick?” Well, we can’t say for sure, but you can give it a try and tell us how it works for you.

Get the Right Dental Implants for You

Now that you know the different types of dental implants, it’s up to you to make the right pick. Consult with a reputable dentist to find out which type works best for you. The dentist can also give you alternative treatment options aside from getting implants.

Don’t forget to check out the other posts on the site for more informative content.