Dental Implants and Its Types
The dental implant is a solution to replace one or more missing teeth due to cavities, gum disease, trauma and other problems. It allows restoring the functions of natural teeth, improving chewing, speech and smile aesthetics, which also contributes to the patient's self-esteem.
The technique is performed by attaching a titanium pin to the maxillary or mandibular bone. This pin acts as the root of the tooth and acts as a support base for dentures - artificial resin or porcelain teeth that replace lost teeth. Because they are threaded and remain firm, implant prostheses are safer than removable prostheses, for example.
What types of dental implant?
There are several dental implants options on the market and each one is more suitable for a type of need. At the time of choice, only the dental surgeon can determine which procedure is recommended for each case. Below, we list the main types for you to know.
1. Simple single implant
It is the most suitable for the replacement of a single tooth or in the case of the loss of a few non-sequential teeth. In the procedure, the pin is placed to replace the lost tooth and, after two or three months, the prosthesis or crown is inserted.
It is worth remembering that people who have missing teeth and remain without implant for a long time are at greater risk of absorption of the jaw bone by the body. Therefore, for the procedure to have positive results, it is important that the implant is performed as soon as possible, as it is necessary that the patient has sufficient bone mass to support the new tooth.
2. Double implant
The double implant is done when the patient loses three consecutive teeth. In these cases, bone conditions are analyzed so that only two implants replace the three losses. The main difference between this type of implant and the previous one is that, in this case, the middle prosthesis is in an empty space, supported by the gum. The procedure reduces the cost of treatment and is an excellent option to fill the missing three teeth.
3. Implant with prosthesis protocol
Quite indicated in cases where most teeth are compromised, this model uses 4 to 8 implants to support a fixed total prosthesis. The result is quite natural and offers great security, however, it is necessary that the bones are healthy for the procedure to be performed.
4. Implant with overdenture prosthesis
With a lower price than the previous option, the overdenture model uses 2 to 6 implants, in which the total prosthesis is fitted. It works like a fixed denture, which offers safe chewing, however, it can be removed to facilitate hygiene.
5. Zygomatic implant
This type of dental implant is indicated for patients with severe maxillary atrophy, eliminating the need for bone graft. In this procedure, the pin is attached to the zygomatic bone, also known as the cheekbone. The results are quite satisfactory and replace the total removable dentures.