Dental implant
Think of it as an artificial root for your tooth. When you lose one or more teeth, a dental implant is like a small metal screw-like structure that is inserted into your jawbone. After the bone heals around the implant, an artificial tooth is placed over it that looks and functions just like a natural tooth. This process allows you to restore the lost functionality and appearance of your teeth.
Dental implants can be classified into several main categories depending on different characteristics and methods of application. Here are some of them:
- According to the material:
- Titanium implants: Titanium is a material that is widely used for dental implants because of its biocompatibility and strength.
- Ceramic implants: These are made from ceramic materials and can offer aesthetic benefits by blending more naturally with the surrounding teeth.
- According to the method of placement:
- Single implants: Used when a single tooth needs to be replaced.
- Multiple implants: Used when more than one tooth needs to be replaced or when a full jaw reconstruction is performed.
- According to the method of integration:
- Immediate implants: Placed immediately after tooth extraction, providing an immediate replacement.
- Delayed (standard) implants: Implants that are placed after a healing period after tooth extraction to allow the bone to stabilize.
- According to the format:
- Medium-diameter implants: These implants are used for wider bone structures.
- Thickened implants: They are suitable for thinner or flat bone structures.
