Center for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry
Dental Implants: Are They for Me?
By Thomas D. Taylor, D.D.S., M.S.D., and William R. Laney, D.M.D., M.S.
What Mouth Conditions Might Require a Dental Implant?
If you are missing a tooth or teeth, or even parts of your
jaw, these could be replaced with dental implants. First, there
are a few very important factors that must be considered.
Experiments and practical experience have shown that implants
work best when there is enough dense, healthy jawbone in a mouth
that will support an implant.
Healthy, disease-free gum tissues are also necessary. The
long-term success of a dental implant depends upon keeping the
gums and bone around the implant healthy. People who have
implants must keep them clean and should return regularly to
their dentist for checkups, because any problems
that might threaten the health of the implant must be corrected.
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What Are the Types of Implants?
There are three types of implants, and they can be described
according to their shape and how they are attached to the jaw.
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ENDOSSEOUS (en-doss-ee-us)-“within the bone”
These implants are usually shaped like a screw or cylinder and
are made either of metal, metal covered with ceramic, or ceramic
material. They are placed within the jawbone. There are also
blade-shaped endosseous implants. |
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SUBPERIOSTEAL (sub-pear-ee-oss-tee-al)-“on top of the
bone”
These implants consist of a metal framework that attaches on top
of the jawbone but underneath the gum tissue. |
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TRANSOSTEAL (trans-oss-tee-al)-“through the bone”
These implants are either a metal pin or a U-shaped
frame that passes through the jawbone and the gum tissue,
into the mouth. |
The dental specialist or general dentist chooses the type,
size, and design of dental implant. This choice is made
according to where the implant will be placed, what kind of bone
and how much bone is available, and the design of the tooth or
teeth that will be supported by the implant(s). Your dentist
will determine which type is best suited to your needs.
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Who Should Place Implants?
Implant treatment is a highly technical, complex form of
dentistry. It is not a type of treatment that all dentists can
or want to provide. Ask your dentist about his or her training
and experience with dental implants. If you are considering this
type of treatment and your dentist does not work with implants,
he or she may be able to refer you to someone with the necessary
training and experience.
Implant treatment may be provided in several ways:
1. Implants can be placed in your jaw by a team of dental
specialists. This might include an oral surgeon or a
periodontist who performs the surgical procedures, and a
prosthodontist or a restorative dentist who designs and makes
the teeth.
2. A dentist who has had extensive implant and dental
training and limits his or her practice to implants may both
perform the surgery and make the teeth.
3. A general dentist with particular knowledge, skills, and
training may include implant procedures in his or her practice
and perform all the procedures.
A team approach (several doctors) to treatment is generally
preferred, because all members of the team see the patient for
consultation, examination, and planning before any treatment is
started.
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How Long Will Implants Last?
With advances in the science of implant dentistry, you can
now expect that most implants will function indefinitely.
However, like any dental restoration, the teeth may wear or
break and need to be repaired or replaced.
All material is copyrighted by Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc. and reproduced with permission.
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