Dental implants are surprisingly common. It’s estimated that 10% of the population has tooth loss and the need for implants. It should be noted that this is significantly better than in previous years. Just thirty years ago the rate was closer to 20%.
Improved dental techniques, more attention to oral hygiene, and the reduced cost of implants are all contributing to people keeping their teeth into old age. Unfortunately, there are still times when dental implants are required.
This can be a result of tooth decay, disease, or trauma. But, when you’ve lost a tooth it’s essential that you have an implant or a bridge. This prevents the other teeth from moving into the gap and possibly causing other dental issues.
Of course, if you’re going to have dental implants make sure you choose a reputable dentist, such as this dentist Petrie. It will make the experience easier and you’ll find every step of the process s explained, helping to put you at ease.
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Endosteal Implants
An implant requires a root. These are made from titanium. A hole is made in your jawbone where the old tooth is connected. The titanium peg is then cemented in place. Amazingly, titanium actually bonds with the bone. You’ll need to wait 2-3 weeks before the two substances have bonded. The dentist can then fashion a tooth to match yours and attach it to the titanium peg, giving you a natural-looking tooth.
The Endosteal implant is the most common type of dental implant. The post, or new root, is shaped like a screw and effectively screwed into your jawbone as mentioned above. It is important to have a healthy jawbone for this type of implant. If you don’t the implant won’t be strong enough to hold.
Subperiosteal
This type of implant is the most common alternative to the Endosteal and is suitable for anyone who doesn’t want their jawbone drilled into or who doesn’t have a healthy enough jawbone.
This type of implant rests on top of the jawbone but below the gum line. Its strength is derived from a metal frame that is positioned under the gum and a post sticks up to support the tooth. Again, you’ll need to wait between the fitting of the support and the tooth because the gum needs to heal around the metal frame, effectively holding it in place.
Zygomatic
The third type of implant is the least common and most complicated to do. A dentist will usually only take this option when it’s impossible to undertake either of the other implant options. It’s designed for when there isn’t enough jawbone for the Endosteal implant. Instead of attaching a peg to the jawbone, it’s attached to the cheekbone.
This process still takes time to heal and it’s much more complicated. You’ll also find your mouth feels strange for longer as you get used to an implant attached to a cheekbone.
It’s likely that your dentist will suggest bone augmentation instead of suggesting the Zygomatic implant. This effectively adds bone to your jaw.
Understanding the different options will allow you to chat with your dentist and make the best decision for you.