Types of Dental Implants Based on Positioning Techniques:

The position of an implant is determined by the health and preference of the patient’s jawbone. You may use one of the following implant types depending on these factors. Your Prosthodontists will select from the various coating, connector, and size options for each type of dental implant. While there are several methods for implant placement, they typically fall into one of two categories.

Endosteal Dental Implants:

These are also called endosseous dental implants. The most popular type of dental implant is endosteal. They are occasionally used in place of a bridge or removable denture. Endosteal implants can be screwed (threaded), cylindered (smooth), or bladed. Your prosthodontist can advise you on the best type of dental implant for you, but endosteal implants are the safest, most effective, and widely used option today.

Endosteal implants are placed by drilling into the jawbone and inserting a titanium screw that serves as an artificial root. You will have to wait for the soft tissue and bone around the root to heal before proceeding with the treatment. This usually takes a couple of months.

Endosteal implants are well known for producing the most stable, natural-feeling results.

An endosteal implant is installed by screwing it into the jawbone, which requires adequate jawbone health and density. If you have a naturally narrow jawbone ridge or one that is short, narrowed, and worn down due to trauma or disease, you may not have enough bone to support an endosteal implant properly. A subperiosteal implant may be an option in this case.

Subperiosteal Dental Implants:

Today, dentists seldom subperiosteal implants. They were previously used primarily to keep dentures in place in patients with inadequate bone height. Subperiosteal implants are placed upon on jawbone inside the gum tissue, with the metal implant post visible through the gums to keep the denture in place.

The overall treatment process for subperiosteal implants is completed in two consultations and is frequently a much shorter treatment plan than for endosteal implants.

As the implant does not go into the jawbone but instead rests on top of the tissue and is locked in place only by soft tissue, subperiosteal implants do not have the same level of stability. Although this provides more support than dentures without implants, it is far less stable than a complete endosteal implant system.

Types of Dental Implants Based on the Material

Dental implants are manufactured from a variety of materials. Each material influences the cost of an implant and offers distinct advantages.

The majority of dental implants are made of titanium or zirconia:

Titanium Dental implants:

Because titanium fuses well with bone, it has long been used for hip and knee replacements. The metal has proven to be a successful and long-lasting option for dental implants over time. Titanium implants are strong and durable while remaining lightweight. Because of allergies or autoimmune diseases, some people are not good candidates for titanium implants.

Zirconia Dental implants:

Zirconia is a metal-free crystal material used in dental implants for the first time. When compared to titanium’s three pieces, zirconia’s one-piece construction allows for a shorter surgery. There is also no risk that zirconia will aggravate a metal allergy. Because zirconia implants are newer, there isn’t as much evidence to support their longevity. Furthermore, zirconia implants are more expensive than titanium alternatives.

Gold, stainless steel, and cobalt-chromium dental implants are also used on occasion. However, these alternative metals have lower success rates and are not as widely used. According to current research, titanium is the best material for dental implants.