What is a dental implant?
Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.
What are the conditions for a dental implant?
- Healthy gums
- Adequate bone to support the implant (or be a candidate for bone grafting)
- Excellent oral hygiene habits and regular dental visits to ensure the long-term success and health of the dental implants.
2 Types of Dental Implants
- Endosteal implants
- Subperiosteal implants
Endosteal Implants
These dental implants are placed in the jawbone. Typically made of titanium and shaped like small screws, they are the most commonly used type of implant.
Subperiosteal implants
These dental implants are placed under the gum but on, or above, the jawbone. They may be used in patients who do not have enough healthy natural jawbone and cannot, or do not want to, undergo a bone augmentation procedure to rebuild it.
Advantages of dental implants
This is according to https://www.webmd.com/
- Improved appearance -Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
- Improved speech– With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip.
- Improved comfort– Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
- Easier eating- Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
- Improved self-esteem- Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
- Improved oral health – Dental implants don’t require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
- Durability– Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
- Convenience. Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.