What are dental implants and what types exist?
Dental implants go beyond just aesthetic dentistry, many treatments have the main objective of improving oral health. In addition to providing aesthetics and health, they help restore operability.
A bad bite can significantly impact the shape of the face for aesthetic and health reasons.
To correct these problems, dental implants are an effective option that has great benefits.Whether due to trauma or extraction, implants are permanent teeth and solutions that help recover the function of the mouth.
How do dental implants work?
Implants are fixtures designed to anchor artificial teeth that replace lost teeth.
The process begins with the embedding of a screw-like piece that is placed in the jaw bone, beneath the gum tissue.
These brackets hold artificial teeth, which can be dental crowns or dental bridges.
The artificial pieces coexist naturally with the tissues and teeth of the mouth to provide an optimal, aesthetic and functional solution.
Functions performed by dental implants
- Aesthetics: it is important to highlight that an implant helps to recover the smile and its aesthetics by showing a complete smile that greatly helps our self-esteem.
- Occlusal: dental implants help us chew food, this improves our digestion and helps us relieve the load that other teeth have.
- Biological: the lack of teeth causes other pieces to move into the empty space. This causes cavities to develop. It also causes the alveolar bone to be absorbed and reduced.
Parts of the implant
An implant goes beyond just a dental prosthesis. A dental implant is made up of various parts:
- Body: A screw-like device that is inserted into the bone to serve as a root and anchor for the prosthesis.
- Abutment: this piece connects the previously installed body with the prosthesis or dental crown to keep both parts together.
- Crown: aesthetic piece that is screwed into the screw and connects to the abutment to stay in place.
Types of implants that exist
Dental implants can be classified in different ways according to their characteristics and function.
Endosseous
They are the most common and are surgically placed in the maxillary bone or jaw. Thanks to its biocompatible material, the integration of the implant with the bone is favored. After this process, the crown or dental prosthesis is placed.
Subperiosteal
Implants based on a metal structure that is placed in the jaw bone. In these implants, posts protrude through the gums that serve to anchor the artificial teeth. These are used when there is not enough bone height.
Pterygoids
When there is little bone, an alternative is these implants nailed into the pterygoid processes of the upper jaw.
Zygomatic
Threaded implants of 30 and 52 millimeters in length that are fixed on the cheekbone. They are used in cases where there is not enough alveolar bone in the jaw.
Implant shapes
There is another way to classify dental implants and it is by their shape:ScrewThe most common and used implants due to their speed in the osseointegration process.
Cylindrical
They have two perforations at the base that allow the bone to develop inside to provide great firmness to the complete implant.
Laminate
These are created with sheets of perforated titanium to allow bone growth inside. These are ideal for patients with little alveolar bone.
Benefits of dental implants
Dental implants provide a wide variety of benefits to patients and perform highly.
They offer comfort to ensure a good bite and make it easier to chew food, as well as recover the functions of the mouth.
They are safe and, thanks to medical advancement, have a 98% success rate in providing comfort without fear of breaking or falling off.
As aesthetic value, they help restore your smile, provide security, and help regain confidence to smile, speak, and chew normally.
Additionally, when using this option it is not necessary to grind other adjacent healthy teeth as is often the case when dental bridges are placed.