- How long will the implant placement take?
- How will the implants fuse to the bone?
- Which teeth need to be replaced?
How Long Does Implant Surgery Take?
The full dental implant process may include multiple visits to your periodontist. You will need an assessment, first of all, and then, you may need bone grafts and/or gum grafts or periodontal treatment to prepare your mouth to take the implant rods.
If you are putting in 4 or more implants on each jaw (upper and lower), you typically do it in several steps with traditional dental implants. However, with same-day implant techniques, you can get new teeth in just one day. Not everyone will be able to use the Teeth In One Day program, but many can – so talk to your periodontist about that possibility if you want to minimize dental visits when getting your new implants!
Two Ways Implants Fuse To The Bone
When selecting among different implant options, one of the first questions you should consider is whether to use endosteal or subperiosteal implants. Both work well, but they arrive at the goal a little bit differently.
With endosteal implant rods, the titanium rod not only goes through a hole in the gums but also into a socket cut out of the bone mass of the alveolar ridge. If you are getting your implant placed into the empty socket left by an extracted tooth, you should probably go with endosteal implants. Most patients opt for this type – especially if they will be getting implant-supported dentures or bridges.
Subperiosteal implants work a little differently. The end of the implant rod rests on top of the bone instead of being partially buried into it. “Posts” will be used to give added stability to the implant, but the rod will naturally fuse to the bone and be extremely firm. Many times, if you lack sufficient bone height at the crucial point, subperiosteal implants will be used instead.
Which Teeth Do You Need Implants For?
Another big factor in determining what kind of implants you need is based on which teeth in your mouth are going to be replaced. If you are missing only one or two scattered teeth, then a single, free-standing implant for each one will be in order.
If you are missing two or three teeth in close proximity, then it makes sense to attach multiple dental crowns to one or two implant rods – that is, you use an implant-supported dental bridge.
Finally, if you are missing all or nearly all of your teeth on one or both jaws, then you need full mouth dental implants. That means you have permanent dentures attached to four dental implant rods, both on the upper/lower jaw. This offers numerous advantages over traditional removable dentures.
Making The Final Decision
The above-given information should give you a basic idea of what you may be looking for in dental implants. But this isn’t a decision you can safely make 100% on your own. There are many medical, financial, and practical factors at play that only an experienced periodontist will be able to sort through.
For assistance in making a decision on dental implants, talk to periodontist Dr. Kenzik in Ormond Beach, Florida, today!