Types of Dental Implants: Which One is the Best?

Restoring your perfect smile after losing a tooth shouldn’t be difficult. With numerous dental solutions at your disposal, you are sure to find one that fits your needs. As far as missing teeth restorations are concerned, dental implants offer the best solution.

Regardless of the cause of the tooth loss, you have several types of dental implant procedures to choose from. To make your choice for a dental implant easier, we’ll discuss three types of dental implants that you can consider below.

Your dentist near you can help you identify the perfect match for your unique situation.

Types of Dental Implants

The most common types of dental implants are:

1. Endosteal Implants

They are the most popular and effective type of dental implant. While endosteal implants offer a longer-lasting and more stable solution than other types, not everyone is eligible. They are best suited for patients with a good amount of jawbone.

If you don’t have enough jawbone, you can consider other implants or undergo a bone grafting procedure to rebuild the lost bone. Endosteal implants feature screw-like shaped posts that are surgically implanted into the jawbone. The procedure usually has a high success rate and only requires little time to heal.

2. Subperiosteal Implants

These implants are the main alternatives to endosteal implants. If you don’t have enough jawbone for the endosteal implants to be fixed into, your dentist may suggest subperiosteal implants.

For this procedure, two appointments are required. The Dental implant is fixed onto or above the jawbone but under the gum. This procedure is not frequently used and is less stable than endosteal implants.

3. Zygomatic Implants

The last and rarest type of dental implant is the zygomatic implant. It’s the most complex type and should only be performed if the patient lacks jawbone tissue. As strange as it may sound, a zygomatic implant is fixed into the cheekbone rather than in or onto the jawbone.

Which Dental Implant is the Best?

Of the three types of dental implants, endosteal implants are the safest, simplest, most stable, and most effective dental implants. They are then followed by subperiosteal implants, and lastly, zygomatic implants.

One of the most important considerations in dental implant procedures is the jawbone. If your jawbone isn’t strong enough to support an implant, you can consider any of the following options:

• Bone augmentation

  – This involves regenerating or restoring your jawbone so that it can support implants. The bone augmentation technique uses growth factors and bone additives to rebuild or fortify the bone.

• Sinus lift or elevation

  – The oral surgeon adds bone below the sinus if the jawbone has deteriorated due to a missing upper back tooth.

• All-on-4 dental implants

  – This is a possible alternative to dentures and involves replacing your entire lower or upper teeth with a full set of fake teeth supported by four dental implants. No bone grafting is typically required.

• Ridge Expansion

  – This is recommended for patients with a narrow jaw. It involves adding bone grafting material to expand the body ridge of the jaw.

Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?

Surgery is performed under local anesthetic for all three types of implants, so it should be pain-free. However, after the procedure is completed, you may feel some discomfort at the implant site. The discomfort intensity varies from patient to patient and depends on the type of dental implant surgery taken.

After the surgery, the surgeon may offer you painkillers to manage the pain. They may also prescribe some mouthwash products and antibiotics to promote faster healing and prevent infections.

Seek an immediate dentist near you if you experience any complications or persistent symptoms that don’t settle with medication.

How Long Is the Recovery?

Recovery also varies from person to person. Zygomatic implants take the longest to heal, followed by subperiosteal dental implants and endosteal implants. Make sure you follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions for faster recovery.

Schedule a Consultation

If you would like to have any missing teeth replaced with dental implants, give Dental Partners of Brookline a call to schedule a consultation. We will walk you through the process and help you decide which type of dental implant suits you.