What Types of Implants Are There?

Dental implants in Clyde, NC, are an effective and long-lasting restorative procedure that can replace a missing tooth to its fullest capacity. Still, their benefits go beyond their functionality or durability. They’re also a crucial part of many dentistry procedures, from denture placements to crowns and bridges.

A dental professional can recommend various types of dental implants depending on the tooth that needs replacement and the patient’s condition. In this article, we’ll review them and explain the advantages each one provides.

What Are Implants?

Dental implants are small titanium posts topped with a crown designed to replace a tooth’s root. They’re attached to the jaw and fused to the bone, offering a prosthetic that’s both natural-looking and fully functional.

Titanium is a biocompatible material, which means that it can integrate with the body’s natural tissues—in this case, the jawbone. This process, called osseointegration, ensures that implants are as strong as natural teeth.

Additionally, implants are made from three parts:

The abutments, which work as a teeth’s root.

The crown, customized to fit perfectly between your remaining teeth and to match them in size and color.

The connector, which keeps both parts together.

There are different types of dental implants and procedures, but these are the most common:

1. Single Tooth Implant

Single dental implants are the most common ones. These are the best options if a patient only needs to replace one missing tooth for function, comfort, or appearance. It requires one customized dental crown attached to the implant screw.

2. Implant-Supported Bridge

Implant-supported bridges are ideal for people with several missing teeth. Instead of using a natural tooth, this procedure uses an implant as an anchor for a dental bridge. This offers enough support to the bridge while also protecting any surrounding natural teeth from the strain of holding a crown.

Additionally, it prevents the need to insert several implants for every single missing tooth. The result is having a complete smile again, with restored eating and speaking functions.

What’s the Process for Getting Implants?

Getting a dental implant is an oral surgery that involves various steps.

To find out if your mouth can support an implant, you will first undergo an examination. A medical professional will evaluate your teeth, gums, and jawbone. If your jawbone isn’t healthy enough, a bone graft procedure can be conducted to restore its density.

Once everything is set, you will set a date for the surgery. The oral surgeon will make an incision on the gums, exposing the bone underneath. After that, the implant post is inserted by drilling a hole into the bone.

Now, it’s time to wait for osseointegration. During this process, your natural jawbone grows around the dental implant, holding it firmly in place. This can take 2 to 6 months.

If you choose, a temporary, removable denture can be placed over the hole for aesthetic purposes until the permanent tooth can be attached to the implant.

Once the healing is complete, your dentist will perform another surgery to place the implant’s crown. The crown is custom-made to fit perfectly and match your natural teeth in shape and color.

Get Dental Implants in Clyde, NC

Dental implants meant a big change for dentistry. Not only did they enable patients to restore a missing tooth to its fullest, but they also opened the door to many new procedures designed to improve the patient’s quality of life.