There are many causes of tooth loss. Some of the most common include tooth decay, trauma, gum disease, and poor oral hygiene. Dental implants work as one of the most effective ways to fix this problem, giving you a permanent tooth and root. If you have lost one or more teeth, you should see a dental implant specialist to assess your condition and get the smile you deserve.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a root replacement. Sounds simple, because it is. A titanium post is placed into the bone, where osseointegration–bone connection–occurs. The total process for this bone healing takes about four months. Then, a replacement tooth can be built upon the titanium root for a beautiful, long-lasting restoration.
Over the last fifty years, improvements in design, surgical and restorative techniques, and materials have made implants the most predictable way to restore missing teeth. Today’s implants can potentially last a lifetime and innovative techniques are being improved upon each year.
What are The Different Types of Dental Implant Materials?
The two most popular types of dental implant materials are titanium and zirconium. Dental experts use different mediums for different types of implants, and different usage cases.
Titanium
Titanium is a great building material for dental implants because of how well it fuses with the bone. This option is durable and long-lasting and is widely considered by dental experts as the best material for dental implants.
Zirconium
Zirconium is an innovative material popular with dental implant specialists. It is revered for its nonallergenic nature, ceramic aesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ultimately, based on your dental issues, preferred price point, and aesthetic goals, your dentist can recommend an implant material tailored to your individual needs.
What are the different types of dental implants?
Single Implant
A single implant is made up of three elements: the post, an abutment, and a crown. The post is a screw inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. Your dentist then mounts an abutment onto the screw-like adapter and then places a crown over the abutment. Single implants are great options for patients who have lost a single tooth through blunt trauma or gum disease. This process can take a few months and does require oral surgery, but the healing related to eating and soreness requires minimal recovery time.
All-on 4 Implant
This minimally-invasive procedure uses 4 implants per arch to replace all your missing teeth in just one day! All-on-4 creates a permanent set of teeth with an implant-supported bridge.
For this treatment, the two front implants are positioned at the typical 90-degree angle. But unlike most implants, the back implants are tilted at 45 degrees to provide strength and support in areas that usually lack bone and require bone grafts.
The implant, made of titanium, fuses to the existing bone and becomes part of your jawbone. Along with getting a brand new smile, you are preventing the deterioration of your facial structure and reducing your risk of periodontal disease.
Dental Bridges
A dental bridge is a permanent dental implant that replaces a missing tooth. In the traditional dental bridge application, a crown caps the natural or false teeth on each side of the missing tooth or teeth, with the pontics (false teeth) in the middle. Natural teeth are filed down to accommodate the caps.
Mini Dental Implants
Mini dental implants are, in fact, miniature dental implants. They are used in tandem with partial dentures, not to replace a full set of missing teeth. Your dentist can utilize these toothpick-size implants to fill in missing gaps to keep partial dentures in place. These implants are minimally-invasive and can be applied using a localized anesthetic.
Schedule an Appointment!
At Greenspoint Dental, we are an experienced and reputable dental implant specialist in Houston, Texas. We will insert artificial tooth roots that bond with the jawbone and allow us to place crowns or replacement teeth. We can answer any questions you may have surrounding the dental implant process. Schedule a consultation with our dedicated team of dental professionals and let us give you the smile of your dreams. Have further questions? Visit our dental blog for additional information on commonly asked dental questions.
