November 30, 2021
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are one of the best, safest, & longest-lasting options for replacing a missing tooth.
A complete restoration option for missing teeth, dental implants provide a complete tooth replacement acting as artificial roots to support full function and to stop jawbone loss.
They are created from pure titanium and are quite small to fit into the bone under the gum and act like regular tooth roots. The dentist places a molded crown on top of the implant.
Types of Dental Implants
There are primarily two types of dental implants- Endosteal Implants and Subperiosteal Implants:
Endosteal Implants
The most commonly used type of dental implant, Endosteal Implants are suited for most patients. However, they need a good, strong jawline for the post to fuse to.
Sometimes, they are used as an alternative to a bridge or removable denture.
They can be screw types (threaded), cylinder types (smooth) or bladed types.
Your prosthodontist can help discern the type of dental implant that will work best for you.
Being highly safe and effective, Endosteal implants are the most popular choice used today.
Treatment
Shaped like screws, they are placeholder posts that are put into the jaw by first drilling into the jawbone and then inserting a titanium screw that acts as an artificial root.
The procedure once done takes a little time to heal. It needs time for the soft tissue and bone to heal around the root, and fuse to create a stronghold.
The false teeth can be placed onto the post to fit in with the surrounding teeth, once it is healed, which can sometimes be a couple of months.
Stability:
Endosteal Implants are known for having one of the most reliable, natural-feeling results.
Subperiosteal Implants
Subperiosteal Implants are the main alternative to Endosteal Implants.
Subperiosteal implants rest on top of the bone but under the gum, instead of being fixed into the jawbone.
A post is attached to a metal frame placed under the gum.
The gum gradually heals around the frame to hold it in place and false teeth are then secured to the poles coming from the gum.
However, Subperiosteal Implants are rarely used today and were once mainly used to hold dentures in place in patients with inadequate bone height.
Treatment
The all-around treatment process is accomplished in two appointments and is a far shorter treatment plan than with an endosteal implant.
Stability
Subperiosteal implants don’t possess the same degree of stability as the Endosteal as the implant doesn’t go into the jawbone but rests on top of the bone and is held in place by only soft tissue.
However, it gives more support than dentures without implants.
This option is ideal for patients who want to avoid a jaw grafting procedure or don’t have a healthy jawbone.
Moreover, subperiosteal implants are placed during a single-stage procedure.
Conclusion
Orthodontist Expert Dr. Gaurav Sharma at Kirkland Premier Dentistry says that dental implants are an ideal solution to replace lost adult teeth and that both Endosteal and Subperiosteal Implants are viable options.
He adds that although most patients are best suited for the endosteal implant, the procedure involves screwing the implant into the jawbone, which needs adequate jawbone health and density.
Patients having a narrow jawbone ridge naturally or the one that has narrowed and worn down due to trauma or disease, might not have sufficient bone needed to properly support an endosteal implant.
For such cases, a subperiosteal implant may be an option. Also for those who don’t like the idea of something being placed into their jawbone, they might like the idea of the subperiosteal implant more.
Not everyone needs the same kind of dental implant as the results both options provide vary from one person to another. The dentist chooses the type based on the needs of the patient.
In any dental emergency, feel free to contact us online or call the office.
Dr. Gaurav Sharma has more than 400 hours of continuing education credits for dental implant training, so you can be sure of being in safe hands.
