Dental implants have proven to be one of the most effective ways to improve the health and wellness for those suffering from serious teeth issues, such as cracked and missing teeth. Dental implants are so effective that in many cases they are permanent solutions for your missing or severely damaged teeth.
Dental implants are sturdy cylinder-shaped metal posts or frames that are surgically grafted into the jawbone below your gums. The implants allow your dentist to place replacement teeth onto them to restore your smile as well as the function and health of your teeth.
Implants are created from unadulterated titanium. They’re rather small and fit perfectly into the bone, under the gum, to behave and look similar to normal tooth roots. You can use them for almost every kind of tooth loss that might be troubling you. Dental implants can even be tailor-made to your specific purposes & requirements.
Types of Dental Implants
Over the years, progress in the field has helped professionals offer various kinds of dental implant options. However, the below three are the most popular — and the most extensively used options — in descending order:
1. Endosteal Implants
For a variety of reasons, these are considered the safest and the most common type of dental implant. They are essentially placeholder posts that look similar to screws. They are put into the jaw, at the particular place where the false teeth are afterward fitted onto.
After the procedure, the implants don’t take much time to heal. The implants need the time to fuse with the jaw and generate a strong hold. After the implants successfully heal, false teeth are put onto the post to fit in with the neighboring teeth. These implants suit the majority of patients.
Drawback: They require a good, healthy jawbone for the post to fuse to. Without that, these just won’t work. These are a little more invasive, too, since they are put in the bone rather than on top of it.
2. Subperiosteal Implants
Subperiosteal implants are a rare procedure that’s tailor-made for those patients who have a thin or weak jawbone that can’t support a cylinder implant. They have a metal frame that’s fitted onto the jawbone just underneath the gum tissue. As the gums cure, the frame gets firmly attached to the jawbone. Posts, which are fixed to the frame, stick out through the gums. Artificial teeth are afterward mounted onto the posts.
If the thought of something being grafted into your jawbone doesn’t much inspire you, or you have too little bone left, you may be a candidate for these implants
Drawback: Subperiosteal aren’t usually as sturdy as the endosteal implants.
3. Zygomatic Implants
This is the third popular option and ideal for those patients who have big bone loss in the upper jaw. For the process, there’s no need for bone grafting (bone augmentation). These implants are put into the zygomatic bone (cheekbone) to support the upper jaw (maxillary) teeth, dentures, not to mention bridges. In this sense, the process is miles apart from the usual ‘root form’ dental implants that are put into the jaws to restore teeth.
Drawback: You may suffer from Sinusitis even several years after these are placed.
A dental implant isn’t a single piece. It’s a system of three parts working together, and understanding what each one does makes it a lot easier to follow along with your own treatment plan.
Understanding the Parts of an Implant
Every implant restoration is built from a fixture, an abutment, and a crown. Together, these parts replace a missing tooth from the bone up to the chewing surface, restoring both function and appearance rather than just filling a visible gap.
The Implant Fixture: The Root
The fixture is the part placed into your jawbone, typically made of titanium or zirconia, functioning as an artificial tooth root. Good integration between the fixture and your surrounding bone is what gives the whole restoration its long-term strength, which is part of why bone quality is evaluated so carefully before treatment begins.
The Abutment: The Connector
The abutment links the fixture below the gumline to the crown above it. Depending on your case, it may be a stock option or custom-fabricated, and it can be either screw-retained or cemented in place. The choice between these affects both how the crown is placed and how it can be serviced later if needed.
The Crown: The Visible Tooth
The crown is the part you actually see and use to bite and chew, usually made from porcelain or ceramic for a natural appearance. With proper care, a well-made crown typically lasts 10 to 15 years or longer before it needs replacement.
Variations, Materials, and What Affects Your Choice
Material and design choices for each part aren’t arbitrary. Your dentist factors in your health history, the shape and health of your gums, and how much force your bite naturally generates when deciding what fits your case best. A patient who grinds their teeth, for example, may need different material considerations than one who doesn’t.
How to Choose the Right Implant Parts
The best way to determine the right combination of fixture, abutment, and crown for your situation is a full evaluation, including imaging, at our office. From there, we’ll walk through what’s recommended for your case and why, rather than defaulting to a generic setup.
Ready to Learn More About Your Options?
Schedule an evaluation to find out which implant components are the right fit for replacing your missing tooth.
