Types of dental implant; a guide from our dentist

Do you want to conceal a gap in your teeth with a more long-term restorative option? Have you worn dentures for a while and are eager to know if there is an alternative that can provide the same results?

At Hilton Dental Clinic, our dentist in Nottingham has fitted many different oral implants over the years and knows all there is to know about these nifty and popular aesthetic dental restoratives.

In this brief guide, our dentist in Nottingham discusses the different types of dental implants you may discover when looking online, and the advantages of each of them.

Implant type; endosteal

How it works

An endosteal implant is attached to your jaw and then fuses over 3-6 months on average. It is the most commonly used implant in dental clinics.

Once it has fused to the jaw, our team will be able to attach any manner of dental prosthetic to it, including a crown, a bridge or a full set of implants. For the latter procedures, however, our dentist in Nottingham may need to fit more than a single implant.

Advantages

The endosteal implant is hardy, simple to fit and has a low rate of rejection. With correct aftercare, it can last up to and over 15 years without issue. The endosteal implant comes in 3 parts, meaning that if the crown or prosthetic becomes damaged, it can be replaced without the entire implant being removed.

Implant type; subperiosteal

How it works

This implant is more of a frame that is made from titanium and is placed underneath the gums and on top of the bone. There are protruding parts of this implant, which are used to attach the crowns, bridges and dentures.

Advantages

This implant type is ideal for people who have minimal jawbone and can last for over 10 years. It does not require the fusing time of an endosteal implant for the prosthetic teeth to be placed, and they can be fitted in a matter of weeks.

Implant type; mini or micro

How it works

This implant type is in essence a mini endosteal implant, that requires less invasive surgery to fit and can have the prosthetic attachments placed the same day. This implant type is more suited to supporting crowns or single prosthetic teeth.

Advantages

This is the least invasive implant type and can be attached to a wider range of dental patients. It does not require lengthy fusing time either and is equally as sturdy as the standard endosteal.

Implant type; zygomatic

How it works

This implant type is around 3 times as long as a standard endosteal and is designed to support attachments that are placed on the upper jaw. Instead of being attached to the jaw, it is attached to the zygoma or cheekbone.

Advantages

As before, it requires a minimal amount of jawbone to work, but requires no additional time to fuse. They can last over 10 years with correct care and can support heavier prosthetics like dentures.

For more information about oral implants or your suitability for them, call our team today!