Dental Implant Types and Procedure

If you’re tired of hiding your smile due to missing teeth from injury, disease or decay, then you might consider dental implants after talking with your dentist.

Dental implants are fixtures that are inserted into the jaw to provide a firm foundation for attaching a bridge or denture. According to the American Dental Association, dentists use implants in a variety of dental treatment procedures. They are also offered in different sizes and forms:

Dental Implant Procedure

Types of Dental Implants

  • Endosteal Implants – These are the most commonly used types of implants. Placed inside the bone, they are typically shaped like a screw or a cylinder. Endosteal implants are further divided into two types:
    • Conventional Dental Implants – Conventional, or full dental implants, are longer in length and provide maximum support and stability to any prosthesis that is placed over it.
    • Mini Dental implants – These implants have a shape and form like conventional implants. However, they are much shorter in length in comparison to conventional tooth implants. They are also useful in cases where there is not space inside the oral cavity for placing a longer implant. In addition, dentists use them in cases where there is insufficient bone density to support conventional implant types.
  • Subperiosteal Implants – Doctors insert these implants beneath the gum-line. However, they do not penetrate the jaw bone. Subperiosteal implants are usually used in patients who have a shallow or weak jaw bone that cannot support an implant.

 

Which Implant Type is Best for You

Not all types of implants are suitable for everyone. Your dentist is the best person to help you decide which type of dental implants are best for you. They will thoroughly examine your existing teeth and ascertain your oral health status. They will also inspect X-ray images of your teeth and underlying bone to determine the number of implants required. Additionally, they will evaluate the quality of the bone in which the implant will be placed. Finally, keeping in mind your oral health status, esthetic demands and budgetary constraints, your dentist will advise you regarding the best implant type for replacing your teeth.

 

The Implant Placement Procedure

Placement of dental implants is a multistage procedure:

1. Clinical Evaluation

After a thorough checkup of your physical and dental health to find out your eligibility to get dental implants, your dentist will prepare a detailed treatment plan. They will customize the treatment plan according to your dental needs.

2. Inserting the Implant

Before starting the surgical procedure for placing an implant, your dentist will first administer anesthesia to make you pain-free and comfortable. Afterward, the dentist makes an incision over the soft tissues where they will insert the implant, to expose the underlying jaw bone. Then they drill a hole into the bone, followed by carefully screwing the implant into position while applying gentle forces.

3. Attaching the Healing Screw

After 4-6 months of implant placement, your dentist will order an x-ray to visualize if fusion of the bone and implant has taken place. Next, they will place a healing collar is over it to allow for undisturbed healing of the surgical site. This allows guides the attachment of gum tissue around the implant. The dentist places a temporary crown or a denture over the implant to restore the esthetics while a technician prepares a permanent prosthesis.

4. Tooth Replacement

After another 2-3 months, when the surgical site has healed and the implant has fused with the surrounding bone, the dentist will prepare a suitable prosthesis and attach it to the implant. We use a dental crown for replacing a single missing tooth with an implant. However, for replacing multiple teeth, you might need a partial denture or a bridge.

5. Same-Day or Immediate Loading Implants

In some cases, dentists attach a prosthesis to the implant on the same day when the implant is surgically inserted. These types of implants are knowns as same-day or immediate loading tooth implants. These implants can be a good option for those who do not want to wait for weeks while a tech prepares the prosthesis in the laboratory. However, this type of implant treatment has a very strict eligibility criterion and not all patients are eligible for getting same-day tooth implants. Insurance for Dental Implants Tooth replacement with dental implants is relatively costly in comparison to other options. Unfortunately, most insurance companies cover only basic dental treatment procedures in their insurance policies. Therefore, it is best to check with your insurance provider before you visit your dentist for getting implants.

 

At Centrasota Dental, in addition to accepting major insurance such as Delta Dental, and major credit cards, we also have other payment options as well.

 

Centrasota Dental is the Best Place to Get Dental Implants in Saint Cloud, MN

Our doctor, Dr. Congdon, and his team are highly qualified and trained in providing you with the best dental implant treatment in the area. They take pride in having state-of-the-art dental technology and equipment to take the best care of your teeth. Above all, we have various payment options in addition to regular insurance.

 

Call us at 320-252-3330 with your questions and concerns, and to discuss the best option for you.