Gilbert and Queen Creek implant dentists at the Goodman Dental Center

Specialists in dental implants who will improve your smile.

Five types of Dental Implants that can help you.

Have you had a missing tooth—maybe more than one—and you wished you could have back a full set of teeth? Losing one’s teeth is difficult to live with, whether it is an accident or the need for dentures that took your teeth. Every time you eat something it is a constant reminder of the loss. One of the best of the recent technological advances in dentistry stems from the use of dental implants. Dental Implants are a great alternative to restoration for people who have lost one or more teeth. Understanding the types and uses of dental implants can help you talk to your local implant dentist about the possibilities.

Dental implants come in a variety of styles and configurations designed to fit specifically into every conceivable need a patient may require. The point of using dental implants is to provide a secure platform for a tooth replacement that is firm, rigid, cannot slip, and resist breaking or chipping even better than a natural tooth. Single or multiple dental implants are secured to the jawbone and then capped with a natural looking artificial tooth. There are five dental implant types and they are described with their common uses. One or more may fit your needs but it will take the professional assessment of a Queen Creek dentist to select the proper method for your tooth replacement.

Types of dental implants

Root-form titanium dental implant

The most common of all dental implants, these are fastened directly into the bone. They look like a very small screw or drive nail.

Plate-form dental implant

This type is inserted vertically in the jaw and has one or two prongs on one side on which an artificial tooth is placed. They are triangular in shape.

Sub periosteal dental implant

These are commonly used in patients who do not have enough bone in the jaw for other types of dental implants. These are attached over the jawbone rather than in it.

Transosseous dental implant
Rarely used, they are designed to be used in the lower jaw with the base for the dental implant needs to be bolted to the bone and then extended along the entire bottom of the bite area.

Ramus-frame dental implant

Used to fix dentures when the jawbone is thin, the dental implants are put in the jaw at the back and near the chin and then the denture can be fixed to a metal strip that is just above the gum line after healing.

Why do we consider the use of dental implants as an alternative?

Fixed bridges can possibly damage healthy teeth, thus creating new problems. Dentures slip, click, and come lose. The movement of the dentures and their isolation from activity in the jawbones can contribute to bone loss.

With dental implants all of these problems are avoided. The point is to use the anchor points to build a natural looking set of teeth above the anchors that work exactly like your natural teeth.

Unlike bridgework, which rests on top of the gums and attaches to adjacent healthy teeth, implants use an anchor directly into the bone which acts just like a natural root. The artificial tooth cap is fitted directly onto that artificial “root” giving a polished, natural look to your smile.

Only your dentist can give you the whole story

Not only can your Queen Creek or Gilbert implant dentist evaluate you, he can also describe to you the possible risks or side effects, the time it will take (it usually requires at least two procedures well-spaced apart) and estimate your total cost. Dental implants may not be known for being the cheapest thing you can buy, but they are well worth it and may be one of the most valuable purchases you can make for eating, talking, and smiling.

Making yourself aware of the types and uses of dental implants will help you and your local dentist, or Queen Creek dentist, make better decisions about restoring your teeth and your smile. The recent advances in the types of dental implants available make this a great alternative for consideration. Dental Implants can provide you with natural feeling and looking replacements that act just like your natural teeth and secured securely to your jawbone, they will last a lifetime.