If you
have lost teeth due to injury or disease, the best permanent solution is dental
implants. There are two major types of implants and a few alternatives. What
an implant dentistry journal online recommends varies depending on several factors
unique to the individual patient. For example, some patients’ jawbones aren’t
strong enough to support heavier implants. Here are the most common types and a
few alternatives.
Endosteal Implants
Endosteal
implants are the most common types of dental implants and are generally
considered the most durable and effective. They are shaped like small screws
and made of titanium. Endosteal implants are topped with a false tooth. Dental
surgeons implant them directly into the patient’s jawbone after administering a
local anesthetic like Novocain, or, if the dentist practices sedation dentistry,
general anesthesia.
Subperiosteal Implants
For
patients whose natural jawbone is not strong or healthy enough to support
endosteal implants, subperiosteal implants are often used. They are placed
under the patient’s gums. This means they are either on or above the jawbone,
as opposed to being screwed into it. They take less time to install, but as you
may imagine, they tend to not be as long-lasting and stable. They also do not
have the more natural feel of endosteal implants.
Alternatives
If a
patient wants endosteal implants but doesn’t have a healthy enough jawbone,
alternatives to subperiosteal implants include bone augmentation in which
growth is stimulated or restored in the jaw. Another method is ridge expansion,
where a small ridge is added along the top of the jaw to widen it.
A process
called a sinus lift (or sinus elevation, or sinus augmentation) adds bone under
the sinus. This is done if a person is missing their upper back teeth, due to
the natural bone deteriorating.
Beyond
implants, patients can opt for prosthetics like bridges, but they vary in quality
and dependability
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