What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an artificial titanium replacement. Although it constructed mainly from titanium or titanium alloys, dentists often use different materials to coat the implants. Implants are a healthier way to bridge the gap of teeth as they do not need to be anchored to other teeth.

While it is true that dental implants look better and more natural, there are also specific needs that can only be done through dental implants. These needs can be classified into several different types.

Different types of dental implants:

Endosteal Implants

This type of dental implants is the most common method among many types of dental implants. The endosteal implant is suited to almost all patients. Here are the endosteal implant procedures.

After the required teeth are removed, a screw is then fixed into the jawbone. It requires at least 4 – 6 weeks until the jawbone and the gum surrounding it are fully healed. After this, the dentist begins to put the dental crown on top of the screw.

Subperiosteal Implant

Different from the endosteal implant, the subperiosteal implant procedure starts with a metal frame that is planted below the gum. As the gum covering the metal frame heals, a false tooth or false teeth are finally applied to the posts of the metal frame that protrudes through the gum.

This type of dental implant is suited for those whose jawbones are not suitable for endosteal implant. Before each type of implant is done, the dentist will test if you are a successful candidate for the procedure.

Zygomatic Implant

Among all types of dental implant, the zygomatic implant is rare. This method is only done when the patient’s jawbone is unsuitable for the endosteal implant. Additionally, an indication that a patient requires the zygomatic implant is when they have a severely resorbed atrophic posterior maxilla.

In this procedure, the patient’s cheekbones are used as the base for the implants rather than the jawbone.

Please consult your dentist to learn more about dental implantation. You may also consult experienced dentists online through the Okadoc app, now available on App Store and Google Play.

More from Dentistry:

Keeping Your Mouth Fresh During the Fasting Month