DENTAL IMPLANTS: TYPES AND HOW TO - Dr. Nosheen

Disease-free sparkling teeth are vital for your personality and health. Teeth loss can compromise your appearance and confidence. They have an impact on your aesthetic. Excellent oral health can help to prevent tooth damage and keeps them healthy. But sometimes the loss is unavoidable like trauma and infection of teeth. The advancement in restorative dentistry makes it easy to get back your smile. Dental implants can provide the best substitution for your natural teeth. They offer the same function as your natural teeth can perform. You can speak, eat everything, and can smile without any fear.

Dental implants are placed in the area of missing teeth by a dental surgical procedure. The material used for dental implants is usually titanium that shows excellent and fast healing. They are stronger than other artificial teeth and give natural looks and shine. There are a variation in the types and techniques of dental implants. You can select the best one by the indications of your dentist.

Endosteal Implants

The endosteal implants are used in young adults that have an adequate thickness of jaw bone for the surgical placement of dental implants. They are inserted within the bone of your jaw by the surgical exposure of the area. The success of endosteal implants depends upon the direct union of implant material with the jaw bone.

Subperiosteal Implants

They are more preferable for the older patients that have very thin jawbones. They are placed on the surface of bone below the gums. Subperiosteal implants offer less stability and strength than endosteal implants because they are not inserted into the bone. They are mostly recommended for anterior teeth replacement.

Parts of Dental Implants

Dental implants have basic 3 components:

- Implant body or fixture

It’s the portion of the dental implant that is hidden by your gums. They give the same function as your natural tooth root can perform.

- Healing screw or abutment

It's used in the healing phase of the dental implant until the final abutment is attached.

- Implant abutment

Dental implant abutment is like your teeth. They have the same color and contour as your natural teeth.

Implant Placement Techniques

Dental implant placement required a complete evaluation of patient oral and systemic health. Poor oral health and any systemic disease can lower the prognosis of dental implants. After the initial examination, the dental surgeon will decide the suitable procedure for the implant insertion.

- Single-stage implant

In a single-stage implant, only one surgical procedure is needed. Dental implant screws or fixtures are placed after the incision on the gums. The healing abutments are attached and after the initial healing, the final implant prosthesis that is similar to your natural tooth is placed.

- Two-stage implants

In two-stage surgical procedures, two surgeries are required. In the first surgery, the implant screw is placed and is covered by the gum tissue. After the healing and union with the bone, a second surgery is performed to attach the abutments. This procedure is mostly used in dental implant surgeries due to a high success rate.

Implant Care and Dental Health

Dental implants offer a long-term replacement of teeth if kept with care and maintain oral hygiene. Routine brushing and the use of floss can reduce the chances of implant infection and damage. You can eat all types of food but it is advised to avoid hard food chewing and object biting because dental implants are more prone to breakage and damage. In case of any pain and sign of infection consult your dentist or visit the dental clinic.

--- By Dr. Nosheen Sarwar I BDS and RDS I Dental Surgeon