Anyone in good health who has missing teeth can benefit from dental implants. These implants act as an anchor for missing teeth and come in different forms. Types of dental implant factor by how they attach to the jaw and the shape of the implant. These implants are solutions for many individuals who have oral defects, missing teeth because of injury, missing parts of the mouth or have difficulty wearing dentures. Dental specialists normally apply the implants to patients and the process is a highly technical part of dentistry.
Endosteal
Endosteal is a common type of dental implant that attaches within the jawbone. Otherwise, known as root-form implants, endosteal implants consists of metal or ceramic materials that serve as the root for a missing tooth. Mounting the dental implant requires drilling into the jawbone and a titanium screw attaches to support prosthesis. Colgate explains that once gum tissue has healed after implant surgery, a second surgery assists in connecting a post to the implant and attaching the prosthesis. The screw type implant applies to where there is plenty of depth and width in the jawbone.
Subperiosteal
Subperiosteal is a dental implant that applies when there is a limited amount of jaw structure. It attaches to underneath the gum tissue and top of the jawbone. Natural tissue membrane grows around the implant making it secure. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that the implant is individually designed to fit directly onto existing bones and is a common option for individuals who have difficulty wearing dentures. Subperiosteal consist of metal framework and may be used if all teeth are missing or on limited areas of the mouth.
Transosteal
Transosteal is a form of dental implant that passes through the jawbone and gum tissue. The implant applies to the lower jawbone and has a metal pin or a U-shaped plate. The University of Florida College of Dentistry explains that plates pass from the lower body of the jaw to the jaw itself and extend through the mucous membranes of the mouth. During the procedure, a drill goes straight through the upper and lower parts of the jawbone. This type of implant is the most invasive form of dental implants because the implant runs all the way through the bone.
References
- Colgate: What are Dental Implants?
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Dental Implants
- University of Florida College of Dentistry: Dental Implants and the Dry Mouth Patient
- University of Connecticut Health Center: Dental Implants: Are They for Me?
- American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons: Dental Implants
