Types of Dental Implants

    PHILADELPHIA, PA, March 20, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- All dental implants are generally designed to act as a replacement tooth root beneath your gums. The implant's purpose is to support a replacement tooth, thereby providing more stability than tooth replacements supported by gum tissue alone.

There are two basic types of dental implants, which are referred to as endosteal and subperiosteal. You can discuss these types of dental implants with your dentist, but generally you can rely on your oral surgeon to choose the dental implant that will work for you.

Endosteal: This type of dental implant is divided into two main forms -

- Root form is the most commonly used type of dental implant. It resembles a screw, and it is surgically implanted into the bone beneath your gums.

After placement, the root form dental implant requires several months of healing, during which time it bonds with the bone in which it was placed. Then, the dental crown, denture or dental bridge can be attached to the top of the dental implant.

- Plate form is used when there is not sufficient density of the bone beneath your gums. If the bone beneath your gums is lacking in density, a root form implant is more likely to fail.

A plate form dental implant has a long, flat appearance, instead of the screw-like form. It is placed so that it rests on top of the bone, and eventually the gum tissue grows around it over the several months allowed for healing. Then, the replacement tooth is placed on top of the post extending from the dental implant, just like the root form implant.

The root form dental implant is by far the most commonly used.

Subperiosteal: This type of dental implant may be used when no other implant option will work because of deficient bone beneath your gums.

It is composed of a metal framework that is custom made from an impression of your jawbone. The framework attaches to the jawbone to augment the bone beneath your gums. Posts are attached to the framework and extend above the gums, where the replacement teeth are attached.

In many cases, if a root-form dental implant will not work for you, your dentist is likely to suggest alternatives such as dentures or dental bridges; however, in some cases these other types of dental implants may be effective.

If you live in the Philadelphia area and want to learn more about dental implants, please visit the website of Lindsey Marshall, DMD, to learn more about the treatment at www.lindseymarshall.com.

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