If you’ve ever been concerned about losing teeth and the resulting gaps in your smile, you should know that there is a solution available. Sometimes even the most diligent oral hygiene practices aren’t going to prevent accidental trauma or pernicious decay from getting the best of your teeth. When you have missing teeth and want to replace them, it’s time to consider getting dental implants. Dental implants are an evolving technology that gets better with every passing year and can restore natural appearance and function to your teeth better than dentures. The four most common types of dentures are:
Two-Stage Dental Implants
This style of implant involves a two-step process, starting with the implant of titanium mounts into the jawline. Titanium is used due to its ability to stimulate natural growth in the bone. Once the mounts have healed, you’ll go back for another minor surgery where abutments are put on the mount, ready to receive a crown or restoration.
Single-Stage Dental Implants
These implants are slightly different than the above due to the length of the mounting that is inserted into the jaw. This mounting is longer and leaves the top of the implant exposed, allowing the abutment and restoration to be put into place just a few months after the initial surgery rather than waiting for a second surgery.
Subperiosteal Implants
Some patients aren’t comfortable with the idea of a bolt being inserted into their jawbone and opt to go with this alternative type of implant. These involve the placement of a metal frame being inserted under the gum against the bone. Once the gum is healed, false teeth can be attached to this frame. These aren’t as sturdy as the above types of implants and are only used when necessary.
Zygomatic Implants
For patients who lack sufficient bone to have the above types of implants used, there is the zygomatic implant. These are the least common implant used and are inserted into the patient’s cheekbone rather than their jawbone. These are only used in cases where the other three types of implants are impossible due to a lack of sufficient jawbone to support them.
Are There Alternatives To These Types of Implants?
There are a few steps your dentist may take in the event that traditional implants can’t be supported by your jaw, and when zygomatic implants won’t work. These involve the restructuring of the jawbone through the use of bone augmentation, or the restoration of the bone beneath the sinus if missing teeth have caused them to deteriorate.
If you have more questions about dental implants and want to speak to a professional directly, give Dr. Marian Bradford at Premier Dental of South Orange County a call in Aliso Viejo, CA. Their office and team help patients restore their smiles and get back to living their best life with great dental restoration care. Don’t let gaps in your smile make you embarrassed to flash your pearly whites, call today, and see what we can do for you.