About Me

Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.

Search

Latest Posts

Show Your Teeth Some Respect

What Teeth Replacement Options Are There With Dental Implants?

by April Myers

Dental implants are one of the best tooth-replacement methods out there, but they're not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you're interested in dental implants, there are several potential ways that your dentist may recommend getting them, based on your personal history, tooth loss, and needs. Here's what you should know.

Standard Implants

Standard dental implants are the norm for one or two missing teeth, but they can also be used to replace every single tooth in the mouth if needed.

Dental implants are small titanium rods that are inserted into the gums. After the rod fuses with the jaw bone and the gums seal up over it, a crown is mounted on top. This keeps your artificial tooth firmly in place and prevents it from moving around as dentures can. However, not everyone will qualify for standard dental implants. The good news is that there are other options with dental implants that you'll likely be a better fit for if you can't get standard implants.

Mini Implants

Mini dental implants are basically what they sound like. The same general principle as standard implants goes into them, but instead of a full-sized implant rod, a smaller and thinner one is placed. The same type of crown can be mounted on top, and the implant's functionality is exactly the same. However, mini dental implants are a great choice for anyone who has more delicate bones. Placing a larger implant rod is sometimes difficult if you have lower bone density or osteoporosis, whereas a mini implant can achieve the same goal without putting as much stress on the bone.

Implant-Supported Bridges

Finally, if you have many missing teeth, your dentist may recommend implant-supported dental bridges instead of individual implants.

This type of bridge uses standard or mini dental implants as its base, anchoring the bridge in position. It's a good choice when you don't want to go through having multiple implants put in place, or when your jaw is too weak to support multiple dental implants, or when you want something more affordable.

Unlike standard dental bridges, an implant-mounted bridge is quite permanent and stays firmly in place no matter what you're doing. This typically makes it preferable to standard dental bridges.

Dental implants can help many people even if traditional implants aren't a perfect fit for you. If you've been hesitating, consider setting up a consultation with a dentist to find out how dental implants can work for you.

Share