If you are considering dental implants,
then you should know that there are three types of implants
available. The most popular type of implant is a root implant. This
implant is made up of a screw that is placed in your jaw and a
pontic, or false tooth.
However, there are two other types of dental
implants
that are not as popular, even though they can be better
options for some people: the plate form dental implant and the
subperiosteal implant.
Read on to learn how these implants
differ from the more common root dental implant, who they are best
for, and their pros and cons.
Plate Form Dental Implants
Plate form dental implants are
considered endosteal implants, just like root form implants, because
they are anchored into the jawbone. They also have a false tooth that
protrudes above the gumline. However, instead of being anchored into
the jaw with a screw, these dental implants are anchored into the jaw
with a thin, rectangular piece of metal called a plate form, also
referred to as a blade.
If your jaw is too thin to support the
width of a root implant, then your dental implant specialist may
recommend this alternative dental implant.
The advantages of plate form dental
implants include:
- Plate form implants have been in use for about half a century and have a proven track record of success.
- These implants are also ideal for weaker jaws because they distribute chewing force placed on the implanted tooth over a larger area of your jaw than an implant with a screw.
- They can help some patients avoid bone grafting that would be needed to help make the jaw sturdy enough to support a screw implant.
- The pontic, or false tooth, can often be attached to these implants directly after the implant anchor is placed.
The main disadvantages of plate form
implants are that not all implant specialists in the United States
are trained in their placement and they are just slightly
more
prone to failure than root implants.
Subperiosteal Dental Implants
If you are not a suitable candidate for
any type of dental implant that is inserted into your jawbone, then
your implant specialist may offer you the option of a subperiosteal
dental implant. Unlike plate form and root form dental implants,
subperiosteal dental implants are not anchored into your jaw but are
anchored just underneath your gums using metal frames.
The advantages of subperiosteal dental
implants include:
- They are a good option for people who suffer from osteoarthritis, which often makes the jawbone too porous to support any type of endosteal dental implant.
- The placement of these implants is less invasive. If you have a fear of dental implants that are placed in your jaw, then a subperiosteal implant may be a better option for you.
- Implant placement can be quicker because the implant frame does not have to osseointegrate with your jawbone before the false tooth is placed on top of it.
- Subperiosteal implants can help many people avoid bone grafting if it is needed to support an endosteal implant.
Do subperiosteal implants sound too good to be true? Unfortunately, they do have their disadvantages. Their failure rate is higher than that of root and plate form dental implants. As high as 30 to 50 percent of all subperiosteal implants fail over time. However, if you follow your aftercare instructions and care for your implant site well after a subperiosteal implant is placed, you can help prevent implant failure.
While root form or screw-type dental
implants are most commonly advertised and used by implant specialists
today, there are two other implant types that can be a better option
for some people. Contact us at Premier Dentures and Implants today to
schedule a dental implant consultation.
