Types of Dental Implants

When it comes to advanced restorative and cosmetic dentistry, it's important that dental health professionals tailor their treatments to meet the unique dental health concerns and dental care histories of each patient. We'd like to take a moment right now to note the different sorts of dental implants available and how these can meet the diverse needs of patients.

Single-Stage and Two-Stage Dental Implants

In terms of the surgical procedure itself, there are two types of dental implants, single-stage dental implants and two-stage dental implants. The best option for you and your needs will be determined by your dentist and/or your oral surgeon.

• Single-stage implants - Single-stage dental implants refer to surgeries that are performed in a single procedure. The dental implant is anchored into the jawbone and soft tissue with an abutment that protrudes from the gums. When the patient has healed over the next few months, the dental implant will be able to support a dental restoration.
• Two-stage implants - The two-stage dental implant surgery sounds just like what it is. The initial surgery involves the placement of the dental implant into the patient's hard and soft tissue so that the implant is completely covered by the gums. This will help ensure better healing/integration of the implant. Once the dental implant is properly integrated, a second surgery is performed to expose the implant and place the abutment and dental restoration.

Three Kinds of Dental Implants

There are three different kind of implants in terms of their placement relative to the soft/hard tissues of the mouth. As with the surgeries mentioned above, the type of implant used will be defined by the needs of the patient.

• Endosseous implants - This type of implant is directly embedded into the hard and soft tissues of a patient's jawbone. They tend to be screw-shaped or root-shaped.
• Subperiosteal implants - This type of implant is inserted beneath the gum tissue in order to clamp around the jawbone structure.
• Transosteal implants - This type of implant will go completely through the jawbone and gum tissue of a patient's mouth down into the base of the hard tissue for maximum hold.