If you’re interested in implant dentistry in Brentwood, The Burkitt Center for Comprehensive Dentistry is here to help. Dr. Will Jones and our doctors can provide you with a natural-looking, long-lasting restoration to improve your bite and your smile, and replace your missing teeth.
But what are the common types of dental implants, and which one may be right for your needs? Let’s take a look at the 3 most common types of dental implants now, and discuss some of the basics of each type.
This is the most common type of implant. In this procedure, one dental implant is surgically placed into your jaw and gum tissue. The screw-shaped titanium implant will bond with your jaw bone permanently, becoming a false “root,” to which a dental crown (false tooth) can be attached.
Single-tooth implants are a great option if you’re only missing one tooth, but also can be used if you’re missing several teeth in different areas of your mouth. Multiple single-tooth implants can be placed to restore each of these teeth.
A single-tooth implant looks and feels just like a natural part of your mouth, and you can even continue to brush and floss normally, without taking any other special care precautions. This makes this type of implant very convenient.
An implant-supported bridge is similar to a traditional dental bridge, which uses two healthy teeth as “anchors” to support one or more false teeth, which “bridge” gaps in your smile.
As you may expect, though, this type of dental implant does not use healthy teeth to support the bridge. Instead, two implants are placed into your mouth, and allowed to heal. Then, these implants are used as the anchor points for your bridge, which is permanently attached to the implants to restore your smile.
Like single-tooth implants, implant-supported bridges look and feel very natural, but they are a bit more difficult to clean, and you may need some special tools like a water flosser and a thin “interdental” brush.
Even if you’re missing all of your natural teeth, or all of your upper or lower rows of teeth, you can get dental implants. Implant-supported dentures use 4-6 dental implants to support a set of implant-retained dentures.
Your dentures will lock onto the implants and will never shift or move, making them much more convenient than traditional dentures, which tend to slip and slide slightly when you eat, speak, and chew. Implant-supported dentures look and feel natural, last a long time, and preserve your oral health, making them an excellent alternative for patients who have lost most of their teeth.
Depending on the treatment, these dentures may be fixed in place permanently, similar to a bridge, or removable, similar to traditional dentures. The proper choice depends on your oral health and personal preferences.
If you’re missing more than one tooth, you may still not be sure which treatment is right for you. So get in touch with The Burkitt Center for Comprehensive Dentistry today to meet with one of our dentists and discuss your options in further detail. You can contact us online or give us a call at (615) 941-3368 to get started.
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