Types of dental implants and what we need to know about them

Dental implants are one of the most preferred innovative dental procedures in cases of missing a tooth, as well as the presence of a diseased tooth, for which there is no optimal adequate treatment and the only solution is extraction. Implantology is gaining more and more popularity for a number of reasons, the most serious of which are the relatively painless intervention, extremely high aesthetic end result, longevity of the effect and preservation of taste sensations.

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a titanium structure replacing the tooth root, on which a dental crown is placed, entirely according to the model of the missing tooth and in accordance with the location of the adjacent teeth. The implant is usually made of high quality metal that can be easily adapted to the specific environment of the oral cavity without causing irritation, spoilage, allergic reactions and any discomfort to the patient. In its structure, dental implants include a titanium screw that is implanted in the bone and a superstructure that mimics a real tooth (zirconium or metal-ceramic crown). There are, among other things, different types of dental implants. There is still no consensus in dental implantology on the most accurate classification of dental implants. Their division in practice is most often used for a more precise choice of appropriate intervention for the patient, as well as for the specific preparation of the dentist for the future procedure. Today, we will introduce you to some basic dental implants, classified according to various criteria in both science and practice.

Types of dental implants according to the shape:

• Screw - the most commonly used modern dental implants due to the maximum approach to the natural root shape and the initial stability during placement
• Knife-shaped
• Needle-shaped - the last two have a rather historical significance

Types of dental implants according to the surface:

• Rough - it allows osseointegration - connecting the implant to the bone by growing bone cells
• Smooth - no real connection of the implant to the bone. The implant is held in the bone like a screw - the so-called basal implants. They have the most complications and the lowest success rate.

Types of dental implants according to the material:

• Titanium - in the vast majority of cases, dental implants are made of biologically tolerable metal titanium for the oral cavity. Moreover, titanium implants have proven over time to have a clear ability to bind well to human bone and gums without side effects.
• Zirconium - the use of these dental implants is quite limited and extremely rare. Zirconia is rather an innovation in dental implantology. Serious research and specific data are still lacking for its long-term action in the oral cavity. The zirconium dental implant has been used in Europe since the late 1990s, but quite rarely.

Types of dental implants according to the structure:

• One-component - also called one-piece implants, they are increasingly used by dentists. The reason is the limited possibilities for precise fingerprinting and attaching the crown on them. The only advantage of them is the lack of a gap in which to keep bacteria.
• Multicomponent (2 or 3 parts) - these are implants that can be made with maximum precision and detail, needed both from an aesthetic point of view and from a biological point of view for optimal comfort and long-term use.

Types of dental implants according to the time of implantation:

• Immediate - here the criterion for classification is the moment of implant placement, as this type of dental implants is characterized by the fact that they are placed immediately after tooth extraction.
• Late - with these dental implants, the time from the removal of the tooth to the placement of a replacement is of varying length and most often between a month and a half and three months.

Dear patients, we would like to inform you that at Alexander Valev Dental Clinic we have the best of modern implantology to fully satisfy your individual preferences and to be flexible enough for any type of budget. You can also count on us for a detailed consultation with our specialists to determine together which type of dental implants is most suitable for you.