Different Kinds of Dental Implants: Which One Is Right for You? 

Dental implants restore a person’s smile, but they also allow the person to get back to eating normally and speaking clearly (if their speech has been affected). Equally important, implants help preserve your jawbone and maintain facial structure.

To qualify for dental implants, patients need to have:

• Healthy gums.
• Overall, good oral health.
• Sufficient bone density.

Dental implant patients should be nonsmokers and in good overall physical health. If they lack adequate bone mass, our dentists can usually perform a bone graft to build up their bone density.

Once we determine that you’re a good fit for dental implants, we will place the titanium or zirconia post into your jawbone in a surgical procedure. The post takes three to six months to heal and fuse with the bone. Once this healing is finished, we will attach an abutment to the implant. The abutment supports a custom-crafted porcelain crown, fully restoring your tooth.

The dentists offer several types of dental implants, including single-tooth replacement options, at our office. Other dental implant solutions include:

• Implant-supported bridges.
• All-on-4 implants.
• Full arch implants.
• Mini dental implants.
• Zygomatic implants.

Compared to traditional bridges or dentures, dental implants are unmatched in terms of durability, stability, and natural appearance. Because implants are securely anchored in the jawbone, they also help prevent bone loss after tooth extraction. This isn’t something bridges and dentures help with. Also, the adjustment period is more seamless because implants function just like your natural teeth.

The process of getting dental implants takes several months. Osseointegration itself requires three to six months, but if you need bone grafting or other pre-procedures, your timelines can be longer.