Having a dental Implant is necessary when an individual has tooth loss due to dental problems, including tooth decay, injuries, and other periodontal complications. Before visiting a dentist for a dental implant, there are some things which you should be aware of, including types, procedures, and benefits of dental implants.
Types
When you visit a dentist, you can choose between three categories of dental implants, including endosteal, subperiosteal, and zygomatic.
1. Endosteal Implants
Endosteal implant ranks as the most popular type of implant among individuals. This type of implant requires a patient good and healthy jawbone for the screw, blades, or cylinder-like placeholder posts to fuse to. Each implanted post holds a single or more prosthetic tooth that takes a little time to heal upon which the artificial teeth are fitted to restore a normal teeth alignment.
2. Subperiosteal Implants
Subperiosteal is an alternative type of implant for individuals who prefer procedures that do not involve drilling into their jawbones. Unlike Endosteal implants, which are fused into the jaw bone, subperiosteal implants are mounted on top of the bone under the gum. The implant has a metal framework that protrudes through the gum. The gum then heals around the framework to hold it in place. These implants are applicable for individuals who cannot wear debentures, those without enough jawbone, or don’t want an extensive surgery.
3. Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants are another option that is not very common and is only applicable to individuals who do not have enough jawbone; however, the procedure involved is very complex. Instead of the implant being placed on the jawbone, it is otherwise placed in the cheekbone.
Dental Implant Procedures
The type of dental implant procedure a patient may undergo varies from one individual to the other depending on an individuals’ specific conditions. Once a dentist has evaluated your dental implant requirement, they specifically tailor a procedure and recommendation that will meet your needs.
1. Sinus Augmentation
A sinus augmentation is a medical procedure of adding bone below the sinus to lift its floor. The procedure improves both the quality and quantity of the bone where the implant is to be placed. Sinus procedures are particularly important when placing implants on the upper back jaw, which is usually difficult.
2. Ridge Modification
This procedure involves lifting the gum away from the ridge to expose the deformed part of the jaw, and a bone or bone substitute is added to repair the ridge. This procedure aims to repair inadequate jaws during implants that may result from deformities. The procedure improves the jaw’s appearance and quality and prepares the jawbone for a successful dental implant.
3. Single Tooth, Multiple Tooth, or Full Mouth Dental Implant Procedure
Most procedures are influenced by the number of teeth that require replacement. A single tooth requires one dental implant, multiple teeth require multiple implants, and if you are missing all the teeth, a full mouth implant procedure is necessary.
Benefits of Dental Implants
1. Restoring Your Smile
Having the perfect teeth arrangement and appearance with no cavities boosts your confidence when around people. Implants also help you restore the shape of your face that changes when you lose teeth, making you look older or disfigured. Additionally, implants can improve your speech. Missing teeth and some replacement options can change your pronunciation, but a dental implant enables you to speak naturally, just like natural teeth.
2. Improved Dental Health
If you have any implant, the nearby teeth are not affected, thereby maintaining their well-being, which improves long-term oral health. Additionally, you can stay free of cavities since a dental implant cannot decay.
3. Convenience and Comfort
Implants beat dentures as they feel like natural teeth since they become part of you, eliminating any discomfort of removable dentures. Additionally, implants do not slide like dentures which make chewing difficult. Implants also eliminate the embarrassing inconveniences of removable dentures.
Taking care of your oral hygiene is the key to having a perfect smile and bite; however, some unavoidable circumstances may result in tooth loss, and implants are the perfect solution to restoring your beautiful smile.