Different Types of Dental Implants
Are you searching for a permanent solution for replacing your missing teeth? The gold standard to achieve your goal is dental implants, Bolton because they help restore your mouth’s functionality and smile. This blog seeks to help you learn about the various dental implants you can receive to close the void between your teeth and prevent the consequences of using natural teeth.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are tiny titanium posts or screws surgically embedded within your jawbone beneath the gum line. The titanium post integrates with your jawbone to create a stable foundation for your artificial tooth.
The titanium post is a replacement for the natural tooth root you lost. Besides integrating with your jaw to function as a replacement tooth root, the implant also stimulates and preserves bone structure.
Atop the titanium post sits your restoration. Generally, it is a single dental crown for replacing one tooth. However, dental implants support multiple missing teeth with bridges or secure dentures.
Dental implants last for life with proper care and regular dental visits for exams and cleanings because they are incredibly successful by 98 percent.
When selecting dental implants, you are offered different choices by providers making it essential to understand the three versions and their pros and cons.
Three Versions of Dental Implants
Use One Dental Implant to Replace One Tooth
Dental implants often help replace one missing tooth needing one titanium post and one restoration.
The Dental Implant Process
Here is what you expect with the dental implant process.
You schedule an appointment with a dental implant expert to determine your candidacy to ensure they create a customized plan for your treatment.
The nearby dentist will use surgical-grade technology to place the titanium post within your jawbone. You should not experience discomfort during the surgical process because the dentist ensures you are comfortable by giving you local anesthesia. The healing time for the titanium post to integrate with your jawbone is approximately three to four months.
After healing, your new customized dental crown is mounted on the titanium post with an abutment. The new tooth will appear and feel similar to the surrounding teeth.
Unlike alternative restorations, a single-tooth dental implant helps replace the missing tooth from its roots to the crown. Therefore, single-tooth implants are optimal if you have one or multiple missing teeth not adjacent to each other. However, there are better options than single-tooth dental implants if you have multiple missing teeth in a row. In addition, the next version of dental implants helps you save money if you have multiple missing teeth.
Replacing Several Teeth with Implant-Supported Bridges
When you have several missing teeth neighbouring each other, your optimal option is an implant-supported bridge.
Implant-Supported Bridges Explained
Generally, bridges contain dental crowns on either side of the lost tooth with a false tooth between them attached to the crowns. However, with implant-supported bridges, instead of attaching crowns to natural teeth, they are connected to dental implants. The process for implant-supported Bridges is similar to getting a single-tooth implant. However, the missing tooth in the gap does not receive a dental implant.
Implant-supported bridges are beneficial because they help securely replace multiple missing teeth in a row eliminating the cost of replacing each tooth. The downside is that not all teeth receive an implant indicating you will endure some bone loss.
What happens if you lose all your teeth?
Replacing All Teeth Using Implant Retained Dentures
If you are missing all your teeth, implant-retained dentures are optimal for your needs.
What Are Implant Retained Dentures?
Dentures are an artificial arch of teeth resting on your gums and appearing like you have a complete set of teeth. However, traditional dentures are removable, meaning they can slip, ensure and fall out, making everyday tasks challenging and uncomfortable.
Implant-retained dentures help you permanently secure artificial teeth after the dentist strategically places four or six implants for one dental arch. While healing, your existing denture is modified to make it wearable during the healing.
After your recovery, you will receive new custom dentures that you snap on dental implants. It results in a permanent, secure, custom-designed denture to satisfy your aesthetic goals. However, it is crucial to determine your candidacy for different types of implants before you consider any option to replace your missing teeth.
Whether you miss one, several, or all your teeth, dental implants can replace them with a lifelike replacement resembling your natural teeth and requiring minimal maintenance with proper dental care and visits to the dental clinic for exams and cleanings. Implants, the gold standard replacement solution for missing natural teeth, remain with you for life if you care for them as your dentist recommends.
If you want replacements for your natural teeth, South Hill Dental helps provide a stable solution lasting you for life with dental implants. An appointment with them will help you realize which dental implant best suits your needs; if you are eligible for the treatment, receive them to close the gaps between your teeth or replace all your teeth.