Comparing Dental Implant Options

When you lose one or more teeth, you might notice a number of issues that disrupt your daily life. You can have trouble performing oral functions, see gaps interrupting your smile, and carry a higher risk of further oral health complications. Fortunately, you can find comprehensive tooth replacement to address these concerns with implant dentistry.

Tooth loss affects dental patients differently, so your dentist can offer you several types of implants that will suit your unique dental needs. Read on to learn more about three dental implant options that your dentist might give you to replace your missing teeth and restore your smile.

types of dental implants

3 Types of Implant Dentistry Treatments

Single Dental Implant

Dentists will recommend a single dental implant for patients seeking the replacement of one missing tooth. However, you can receive more than one of these types of implants to fully restore your smile if needed.

This dental fixture uses a titanium post anchor which a dentist will surgically insert into the jaw. As it heals, the anchor fuses with the bone in the jaw, establishing a solid foundation for a prosthetic tooth. The dentist will use a dental crown as a prosthetic, attaching it to an abutment at the gum line once you heal from the initial surgery.

Dental implants will fill gaps in your smile using custom-made prosthetics. So you can see a fuller and more gorgeous finish in your smile that also looks natural. The prosthetic resists staining so that you can see long-lasting enhancement – twenty years or longer.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridge

An implant-supported dental bridge makes for an ideal restorative solution for patients who lost three or more teeth in a row. The procedure is similar to that of a single dental implant, which will entail three or more appointments with your dentist over the course of several months. The device uses two anchors: one to support each end of the bridge prosthetic.

Then you can count on the restoration of oral capabilities along with your smile’s appearance. You can bite and chew without issue. Removable tooth replacements could have you worrying about devices slipping out of place. But fixed dental implants will not give you this concern.

All-on-Four Dental Implant

An All-on-Four dental implant will replace an entire arch of missing teeth. You can receive this fixture on the top or bottom arch of the mouth or both if needed. As its name implies, this implant relies on four anchors to support the full arch of prosthetic teeth.

The fixed dental implant can provide more restorative advantages than removable dentures. Dentures will only replace lost teeth above the gumline, meaning you will remain in danger of dental problems like jawbone loss. The anchors of implants replace missing tooth roots to stimulate the jawbone, preventing its deterioration.

Though it may seem invasive and expensive, these long-term benefits can make this treatment worth the hassle. Learn if you qualify for implant dentistry by scheduling a consultation today.