Types of Dental Implants
Chandler, AZ
 Dental implants come with a variety of options to meet a range of needs. Implants are available in both metallic and non-metallic materials, come in different sizes, and can be used in tandem with varying prosthodontics.
At Scholes Periodontics & Implants, we will evaluate your oral health needs and discuss the current and predictive status of your teeth. We can then create a treatment plan to rebuild missing teeth with one or more permanent implants. We invite you to learn more about dental implants and how they can benefit the look and function of your teeth.
A dental implant is not a false tooth, rather it is a new tooth root. We surgically embed a firm post into your jaw to reconstruct the root system for a false tooth to set in, reestablishing connection between the tooth and jawbone. The implant is designed with a threaded end that is placed into the bone, and a connecting head to connect the prosthodontic.
As the bone heals, it will grow up and around the threads fusing the bone to the implant, this healing process is known as osseointegration. Once the bone has healed, we can then attach the restored tooth to the implant. The number of implants you need, and the prosthodontic device you use, will be entirely dependent on you and your needs.
Dental implants come with a lot of variations including material, size, and style. Dental implants are available in both a metallic titanium material and a non-metallic ceramic material. Most often we will recommend titanium, but ceramic can be used for patients who have metal sensitivities or if we determine that the gum tissue is thin enough that the dark coloring of the implant could be seen through the gums. Additionally, implants come in varying lengths including mini implants, standard implants, and longer implants for the All on 4 system.
Benefits of Dental Implants
We recommend the use of dental implants when restoring missing teeth for the many benefits this treatment has to offer. Benefits include:
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Permanent Restoration of Missing Teeth: A dental implant provides the closest feel and function of a natural tooth. It doesn’t rely on neighboring teeth for stabilization and is a permanent restoration. Studies show the success rate of dental implants to exceed any other tooth restoration option.
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Better for your Jawbone: The jawbone, like all of our bones, are constantly rebuilding but requires exercise or motion to stay healthy. When we stop using an area of bone, it will respond immediately with sorption or atrophy. This is true for our jawbone as well. When we lose a tooth, the bone will stop growing in that location to save on resources. With time, as the bone decreases in size, your facial shape will begin to change giving you an appearance that we have come to think of as being older. Restoring missing teeth with dental implants will reconnect teeth to the jawbone keeping the bone healthy and robust helping our bone be stronger and our facial shape remain intact.
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Improve Your Bite: A side effect of missing teeth is changes to the positioning of neighboring teeth. Gaps in our teeth leaves room for teeth to roam. Many patients will ask if extra space is good, and though spacing is often an issue, roaming teeth will rarely shift the way we hope they will.
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Improved Chewing: Missing teeth leads to changes in how and what we chew. When someone loses a tooth, they will primarily start chewing on the other side leading to uneven wear in their teeth. Additionally, they will begin eliminating certain foods from their regular diet because they can no longer chew it well. Both of these changes can lead to problems. It is best to chew evenly and stick with the diet that our bodies are accustomed. |
Single Dental Implants
We can restore a single tooth, or multiple single teeth, with a dental implant and crown. A crown is a tooth shaped cap that is customized to match your bite. Traditionally, you may be aware of dental crowns covering damaged or broken teeth, they can also be used to cover a dental implant. Restoring a missing tooth with an implant and crown means having a fully restored tooth that functions naturally without relying on a neighboring tooth for support.
In some cases, we may be able to plan the surgical extraction of an unhealthy tooth and the implantation of a dental implant in one procedure.
Implants to Anchor a Dental Bridge
A dental implant can be used to anchor one or both sides of a dental bridge. A dental bridge is used to replace multiple missing teeth, traditionally the bridge is anchored with neighboring teeth, but implants can also be used to provide the anchor needed.
A full arch dental bridge, sometimes referred to as All on 4, is a system that replaces a full arch of missing teeth using four dental implants. The implants used in this restoration are longer and placed at an angle to capture thicker bone making a bone graft not needed for many patients.
Multiple Dental Implants
Patients who are missing multiple teeth have options in how they can be restored. We will begin with reviewing your individualized needs. Restoration may include multiple implants and prosthodontics, or we may discuss an implant retained denture.
Full arch dentures can be retained with the assistance of dental implants, meaning they will remain firmly in place when you want them to, or be removable when desired. Inquire about implant retained dentures using a ball system or bar system.
Multiple missing teeth can be restored using dental implants and:
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Dental Bridge anchored with Implants
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Full Arch Dental Bridge, or All on 4
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Implant Retained Ball attachment Overdenture that snaps on and off the Implants
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Implant Retained Bar attachment Overdenture that clasps onto a bar system retained by Implants |
Contact Us!
You do not have to live with missing teeth, or loose fitting dentures. We have options to help. For more information on dental implants, prosthodontics, or to see if you are a candidate, contact Scholes Periodontics & Implants at (602) 900-1609. |
