Dental Implant Types

Payson, Scottsdale, and Phoenix, Arizona

A great choice for permanent tooth replacement is a dental implant. Dental implants replace the roots of your missing teeth and provide the replacement teeth with strong and durable support. The replacement teeth are attached to the implant giving the appearance of a natural and functional tooth.

There are three types of dental implants used for restoring smiles.

• Root Form
• Plate Form
• Subperiosteal Implant

You will want to contact a cosmetic dentist in your area to learn which type of dental implant is right for your tooth replacement needs.

Root Form Dental Implant

The most common type of dental implant is called the root form implant. Phoenix Cosmetic Dentists Dr. Chris Winterholler and Dr. Patrice Winterholler provide their patients with the root form dental implant because it mimics a tooth's root better than the other forms of implants.

A root form implant is close to the size and shape of your natural tooth's root. The implant is placed in your jawbone and requires a healing time of about three months before the abutment can be attached. The abutment is attached to the implant and is what holds the replacement tooth in place.

After the jawbone has healed around the dental implant and has created a strong bond with the implant, the abutment can be attached. The healing process is known as osseointegration. This process usually creates a stronger bone structure around the implant than there was around the tooth's root. After the abutment is attached, the dental crown can be placed.

The dental crown is what acts as the new tooth. The crown is created to look and feel like your natural teeth. Once the root form implant and dental crown are placed, you smile is restored and looks healthy and beautiful.

Plate Form Dental Implant

The root form dental implant is ideal for most tooth replacement. Sometimes, the jawbone is too thin for the root form implant to be placed. In this instance, bone grafting is performed to create a wider and sturdier jawbone for the implant. When bone grafting cannot be performed, the next best choice for dental implants is the plate form dental implant.

The plate form implant is thin and fits nicely in a narrow jawbone because it is long and thin. It gives great support for the replacement tooth and can be used to replace one or more teeth. There are some plate form implants that need time for osseointegration while other plate form implants are immediately ready for the abutment to be attached. As with all dental implants, there is a healing time for plate form implants.

Subperiosteal Implants

The subperiosteal implant is reserved for anyone with very thin jawbones that will not securely hold the root or plate form dental implants. The subperiosteal implant is not placed in the jawbone like the other two types of implants. This implant is unique in that it is placed next to the jawbone, but under the gums. This technique lets anyone with a thin jawbone that cannot have bone grafting done get dental implants.

The subperiosteal implant is custom made to perfectly fit next to your jawbone. Impressions of your jawbone will be created and sent to a dental laboratory for the creation of the implant. The implant does not require the bone to heal around the implant because it is placed next to the bone. This allows for a faster healing time and application of the abutment and dental crown.

Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation

If you have teeth that need to be replaced with dental implants and are in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area, please contact the cosmetic dentistry office of Dr. Chris Winterholler and Dr. Patrice Winterholler for a consultation.