Different Types of Dental Implants​​​​​​​

Despite advances in dental restorations, tooth loss remains a very real problem facing much of the U.S. population. In many cases, our adult teeth simply don’t have the strength and durability to withstand decades of intensive use. By the time we reach our senior years, the majority of us will have lost at least one tooth. Luckily, with advancements in dental technology, there are different types of dental implants in Larchmont to even replace missing teeth for patients who are allergic to metal.

Plenty of younger generations have also suffered extensive tooth decay or damage to their teeth that means that extraction or tooth loss was inevitable. Unfortunately, when you lose one or more teeth, it can have a profound effect not only on the appearance of your smile but also on your day to day life. This is because missing teeth can make it very difficult to bite, chew and even speak clearly, depending on where the gaps in your smile may be.

Fortunately, tooth loss isn’t a problem that you have to live with. Dental implants in Larchmont enable patients to have the appearance and function of their teeth restored.

What are Dental Implants and How do they work?

Dentists quickly recognized the limitations of some of the more conventional tooth-replacement solutions, such as dentures – which are removable and can be noticeable in your mouth, and bridges – which can damage existing teeth. Dental implants represent an innovative way of replacing single or multiple teeth without any of the compromises experienced by patients wearing bridges or dentures.

They have three components – a titanium post or screw, a connector, and a porcelain crown. The titanium post is inserted into the jaw bone via the gums, where the connector then joins it to the crown, which makes up the visible part of the tooth. When the titanium post is in place, it immediately begins to fuse to the live bone around it, and over the course of several months forms a virtually unbreakable bond that provides the ultimate stability for the dental implant.

Advantages of Dental Implants

There are a number of benefits to choosing dental implants. These include:

• Strength and durability
• Enabling the patient to retain a natural-looking smile
• Permanent
• Discreet
• No compromises on what you can eat
• Easy to clean
• The highest success rate of any surgically-implanted device

The advantages of dental implants proved so popular that there are several different varieties available, designed so that the solution is available to as many different individuals as possible.

Endosteal Implants

This is the name given to the ‘standard’ design of implants. The location of the titanium posts is pre-determined using x-rays and other technology. In the case of single missing teeth, you will almost certainly need one implant post per prosthetic tooth. However, it is possible to mount an implant-supported bridge of prosthetics onto fewer posts.

Subperiosteal Implants

These are the main alternative to endosteal implants and are usually recommended for patients who have been found to have insufficient healthy bone in their jaw to support a dental implant. The design of these implants is slightly different, in that the implant posts are attached to a metal frame that is inserted under the gum. The gum then heals around the frame, forming a secure base for your restoration and the porcelain crowns can be attached to the implant posts as normal.

Zygomatic Implants

These are the most uncommonly used type of implant but are necessary for some patients for whom the other two varieties are not suitable. Zygomatic implants are used to replace missing teeth in the upper jaw, and the cheekbone is used as the basis for the implant posts. For this reason, the posts used in this type of implant are significantly longer and the procedure may be slightly more complex.

If you have gaps in your smile that are affecting the functionality of your teeth, and perhaps your confidence and self-esteem too, dental implants could be the solution that you have been waiting for. Our experienced team of dental implant specialists would be delighted to help you restore your smile. Get in touch with our team for more information.