What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants replace tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts with artificial teeth. Our dentists surgically place dental implants in your jawbone to replace missing tooth roots. The materials used to make implants are less likely to decay than organic teeth, so they can offer long-lasting solutions for smile restoration.
The different types of dental implants are:
Endosteal Implants
Endosteal implants are the most common type of implants. We use these implants as an alternative to bridges and removable dentures. A doctor places the titanium root (a screw) into the jawbone to hold the face tooth. Different endosteal implants include screw types (threaded), cylinder types (smooth), or bladed types. Endosteal implants offer stable, natural-feeling results and are a safe and popular choice.
Subperiosteal Implants
While subperiosteal implants are not commonly used today, they can benefit certain patients. We predominantly use these in patients who don’t have sufficient bone height. A doctor places subperiosteal implants on the jawbone beneath the gum tissue with the implant post exposed to hold the dentures. At Shelby Dental, we place subperiosteal implants within two appointments and are a shorter treatment plan than endosteal implants. However, subperiosteal implants are not as stable as endosteal implants because they do not go into the jaw bone but rest on top.
Coatings, Connectors, and Sizes
In addition to different types of implants, we offer various coatings, connectors, and size options.
- Coating – There are different types of coatings and surface treatments for your dental implants. The implant itself is usually made from titanium, but the coating can vary. Different types of coatings are grit-blasted or acid-etched and roughened surface, a microgroove or plasma-sprayed titanium surface, a plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coating, or Zirconia.
- Connectors – Connectors connect the fake tooth to the post. The different types of connectors are internal hex connectors, external hex connectors, and internal octagon connectors. Each connector offers a different mechanism for attaching the tooth to the root.
- Sizes – Every mouth is different, and your implant size will depend on its location and natural size. The different types of dental implant sizes are standard platform, wide platform, and mini or narrow body.
Alternatives To Dental Implants
Shelby Dental offers a wide variety of dentures for patients who are not ready or interested in getting dental implants. If you’d like to find out if dental implants or dentures are the right solutions for restoring your teeth, don’t hesitate to call us!
We Proudly Invest in Your Dental Health
At Shelby Dental, we believe having a smile you can feel great about is essential for your overall quality of life. We offer smile restoration services for patients of any age and are happy to discuss your dental health with you. Contact us to learn more about smile-enhancing services!