Dental Implants are metallic elements that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gums. Once placed in place, the dentist can place on them crowns or fixed bridges that will replace the missing teeth.

For some people, ordinary bridges and dentures are uncomfortable due to sore spots, poor ridges or gagging. In addition, traditional bridges must be attached to teeth on both sides of empty space. An advantage of implants is that no adjacent teeth need to hold a replacement tooth.

To receive implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. The patient must also make a commitment to keeping these structures healthy. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits are essential for dental implants to be successful long term.

The implants are more expensive than other methods of tooth replacement, and most insurance carriers typically cover less than 10 percent of the fees.

Types of dental implants

Endosteal implants: These are surgically implanted directly into the jawbone. Once the surrounding gum tissue has healed, a second surgery is needed to connect a post to the original implant. Surgically implanted directly into the jawbone. Once the surrounding tissue has healed, it requires a second surgery to connect a post to the original implant. Finally, an artificial (or several) on the pole tooth is placed. The teeth will be individual, or grouped on a bridge or denture.

Subperiosteal implant: A subperiosteal implant is placed onto the bone rather than into the bone, similar to a saddle. This type of implant is used most often to cover a large surface, these consist of a metal frame that is placed in the jawbone just below the gum line. With the healing of the gums, the frame is fixed to the jawbone. The posts, which are placed in the frame, protrude through the gums. As with endosteal implants, artificial teeth are then mounted to the posts.