Do you have a missing tooth? Are you tired of wearing dentures that make you feel like you’re chewing with a piece of wood in your mouth? If so, then dental implants may be the solution for you.
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are inserted into your jawbone to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. There are several different methods of placing dental implants, so it is important to consult with your dentist to find out which option is best for you.
Core function of dental implants
The main goal of inserting a tooth implant is to replace a missing tooth (or teeth) permanently. Unlike dentures that are removed from the mouth when not needed, implants are screwed into the jawbone, acting like they are regular teeth. As a rather long-term replacement for missing teeth, implants may last a lifetime with proper oral care and maintenance.
Dental implants work by fusing seamlessly into our bone structure just as if it were another root sprouting from its original source! You can also benefit from this process because they stimulate new blood flow which helps bone health.
There are different types of dental implant procedures, and these are:
- Immediate load dental implants.
Immediate load implants can give you back your smile as soon as possible. The teeth that are initially put in place will be temporary until the implant has healed and built up enough bone support for a permanent prosthetic. This procedure is seen as a practical choice particularly for those who need a quick smile restoration at a more affordable tooth implant cost.
- All-on-4 (or 5 or 6).
This type of dental implant procedure is an excellent option for people who have lost all their teeth due to gum disease or tooth decay. It allows them to replace missing bones with implants and place these in a short amount of time after surgery. This method does not require bone grafts since it uses the patient’s own collagen proteins taken during the extraction procedure to be used as partials.
- Single tooth implants:
If you’re missing one or a few teeth, this is perfect for restoring your smile and making it look beautiful again. A single implant can fill in the gap so there’s no more jagged edges or odd shaped spaces between them.
- Multiple implants.
Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants that are strategically placed to fill the gaps in your smile. If you have several missing teeth, but still don’t need a full mouth restoration option because of large areas left unoccupied by dentition (gaps), then multiple implants could work well for you,
- Two-stage implants.
In this process of receiving dental implants is typically done in three steps. The first day involves a surgical procedure to place the implant into your jawbone, followed by several months with no activity before attaching an abutment and tooth crown.
- Single-stage implants.
In this procedure, the implant healing cap remains visible so you can see how much of your teeth is being restored. This makes it easier for patients who may be nervous about surgery or have difficulty sleeping after such procedures.
- Mini implants.
Lastly, mini implants are small, narrow-diameter restorations that can be placed through less invasive techniques to stabilize a lower denture. These mini teeth replacements prevent the spontaneous “floating” or shifting of your existing prosthesis and allow for better positioning on top so there’s space available.