When it comes to restoring lost teeth, it seems that dentists have now found a new solution; oral implants.
Different from dentures and fitted bridges, oral implants are attached to the jaw itself, fusing over a period of months. Once secure, they then have a prosthetic tooth or teeth attached to them, thus making them visually resemble natural teeth and allowing you to bite and chew with them. Fantastic!
But, as this technology has advanced, there has been a growing demand to expand away from the first dental implants in Bromley to accommodate for more people who may not be suited to it.
In this article, a brief guide is introduced to the 4 main kinds of oral implants used in dentistry today, to help you learn a bit more about the available options. Enjoy!
Why use different oral implants?
When it came to having the basic endosteal implant fitted, many people were either unsuited or unable to have it fitted.
This is typically due to the lack of a strong jaw bone to attach the implant to or it could be linked to secondary health conditions. To ensure that as many people were able to enjoy this form of restorative dental care, different oral implants were created.
Endosteal
Okay, so the endosteal has already been mentioned but, as it is the most widely used, it is important to mention it as a basis.
It physically resembles a small titanium screw and is used when the individual has no underlying health conditions or when they have a healthy jaw bone.
Once fitted, it takes between 3-6 months to fuse and has a lifespan of over 15 years with correct oral hygiene.
Subperiosteal
Technically, subperiosteal implants are not really implanted but they offer the same advantages.
This structure is physically placed between the jaw and the gum, moulded to the shape of the jaw. Once fitted, the gums are closed around the fitting, with 2, 4 or even 6 posts protruding above the gum; this is where the prosthetic teeth are attached.
As it requires no fusing time, the waiting period is shorter and dependent on when the gums heal for the prosthetics to be attached.
Zygomatic
Take an endosteal implant, lengthen it to about 3 times its standard length and you then have a zygomatic implant.
Unlike subperiosteal and mini options, this implant can only be placed in the upper jaw and is fitted to the zygoma, or cheekbone, as an anchor point.
Once there, it can take between 3-12 months to fuse and, with proper maintenance and hygiene, last between 15-20 years.
Mini implants
Take an endosteal implant, shrink it, and you have the mini option!
These are used by dentists to attach single prosthetics to the jaw and usually require minimal (if any) fusing time.
They are more successful when placed on the lower jaw and cannot be used to support heavy prosthetics.
Once placed, they can remain in the jaw for up to and over 10 years. The shorter lifespan is because they are not placed as deep as other implant options.