Are your missing teeth stopping you from showing off your sparkling smile? Whether you need a single tooth replaced or several, dental implants are an effective way of restoring your smile. Besides giving you a sparkly smile, implants enable you to regain full function of your oral cavity. If ignored, missing teeth not only affect your confidence and smile, but they also affect:
• your face’s shape,
• muscle structure,
• your ability to chew, and
• your speech.
If you don’t have these missing teeth replaced in due time, the alignment of the teeth left in your mouth can also get affected. Read on as we tell you how different dental implants can help grant you a new lease on life.
Types of Dental Implants
Endosteal Implants
These are often considered to be the most common types of dental implants. Even though they suit most patients, it is imperative one has a healthy jawbone for the implant to fuse into. They have placeholders that look like screws, which the dentist screws into the jaw in which the false teeth are fitted. Once the procedure is complete, it can take a few days to heal. That is because, with time, the jaw and false teeth lock into place. Once healed, the dentist can then place the false teeth into position.
However, if you don’t want to get something placed in your jawbone, you may prefer the second type of implant on our list.
Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants aren’t too common. They often have a complex procedure and are only done when a patient doesn’t have enough space in their jawbone for an endosteal implant. This implant is placed directly into the patient’s cheekbone rather than their jawbone.
However, if this doesn’t apply to you, the next option may be more suitable.
Subperiosteal Implants
This type of implant is the most prominent alternative for the Endosteal implant. Rather than being fixed into the jawbone, a subperiosteal implant is placed on top of the bone but is still under the gum. A metal frame that has a post attached to it is placed under the gum. With time, the gum heals around the post and fixes it into place.
In this procedure, the false teeth are attached to the poles that are placed under the gum. This procedure is only done if a person doesn’t have sufficient space in their jawbone or if the patient doesn’t want to get oral surgery.
That said, how an implant is placed into the jawbone also depends on the technique being used.
Initial Procedures
3D Imaging
Thanks to the evolution of technology, a dentist can now easily see a 3D model of their patient’s jaw. Using this software, your dentist can understand or create the course of action needed to implant the tooth (or teeth) into your jaw.
Ridge Expansion
It may be possible that your jaw isn’t wide enough for an implant. In this scenario, your dentist can implant a material that elongates the size of your jaw bone. Once done, the dentist can implant the tooth into this ridge.
Sinus Lift
In this procedure, a bone is added below the sinus. This is done because, in some cases, the bone below the sinus can begin to deteriorate because of the lack of upper back teeth.
Size of the Implants
The spot at which you’re getting the dental implant will determine its size. Every mouth is different, and the spacing between your teeth will dictate the size of the implant.
• Standard: These are short and narrow implants that have a size between 3.5mm to 4.2mm
• Wide: These are a bit wider. They have a size between 4.5mm to 6mm
• Narrow Body: These can be used when the patient doesn’t have ample bone density or temporarily while a larger implant is healing
Tooth (or Teeth) Implantation
1. Replacing a Tooth
Unlike other tooth implantation procedures, a tooth implant replaces your tooth completely from the root to the crown. If you have a missing tooth or multiple that aren’t adjacent to each other, then a single implant may be the best option you have. However, if you have several missing teeth, this procedure may not be the best option. Not only will it take a lot longer, but it’s also going to cost you more money.
2. Using an Implant-Supported Bridge
Typically, a bridge has two crowns placed on either side of a person’s tooth gap. Once placed, the crowns in between hold the artificial tooth. But in this case, instead of attaching the crowns to the teeth, an implant-supported bridge is connected to dental implants. This procedure is similar to a single tooth implant; however, the teeth missing in the middle do not receive dental implants.
The only downside is that since all teeth don’t get an implant in this procedure, you’re bound to lose some bone mass.
3. Get an Implant-Retain Denture
A denture is an artificial structure of your teeth. You place it on your gum line, and it gives your mouth the appearance of a complete set of teeth. The only problem with conventional dentures is that they can be removed, which means they can click, slide, slip, or fall out, making daily tasks like talking and eating a hassle. To fix this problem, you can permanently secure your denture with a dental implant.
Implant specialists at Jung Dental Implants can strategically place four implants along your jaw’s arch. While these heal, your existing denture can be modified so you can wear them without interfering with the healing process. Once the healing process is complete, you’re going to get a new and customized denture that fixates on to your dental implants. The result of this is a secure and permanent denture that fits your face’s aesthetics.
Wrapping Up
Nowadays, dental implants are almost indistinguishable from real teeth. That is because modern technology does a good job of matching teeth perfectly, and the functional and structural connection between bones and implants has improved, too.
If cared for properly, every type of dental implant can remain in its position for your whole life. Dental implant experts at Jung Dental Implants can help you determine which option is the best for you. If you want to get your smile back, consider contacting Jung Dental Implants today!