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Other Dental Implant types

dental implants

Dental Implant Types (cont'd)

The technology of dental implants has advanced significantly in the recent years, providing design solutions for a variety of specific patient needs. An implant dentist has the opportunity to choose the best option from a wide selection of dental implant types, with different shapes, sizes, lengths, materials, coatings etc.

Types Of Dental Implants - by Size

The average width for standard implants ranges from 3.5 to 4.5mm but several factors can make necessary the use of different width implants. The dentist must evaluate properly the condition of the patient's jaw (width and depth of jawbone, bone density) and the position of the missing tooth in the mouth and in relation to the adjacent teeth.

  • Narrow form implants (small diameter) - The implant must not disturb the roots of the natural teeth on its sides. If the empty space is not wide enough, the dentist may decide to use narrower implants to allow adequate space from adjacent roots for better osseointegration of the implant. Narrow implants are also known as mini dental implants and their diameter varies from 1.8 to 3.5mm.
  • Wide form implants (large diameter) - Back teeth (molars and premolars) have to withstand much more load than the rest of the teeth during chewing. If there is enough healthy jawbone in the area, the dentist may prefer to use wide form implants for better stability and force distribution. Wide platform dental implants range between 4.5 - 6.0mm in diameter.
  • Shorter implants - If there is close proximity with a facial nerve, a shorter implant has to be used to avoid the risk of nerve damage (often used for front teeth ). The use of shorter types of dental implants is also recommended in some special cases for the upper jaw to avoid damage to the sinus.

Caution: The use of smaller diameter implants (mini dental implants / MDI) has increased significantly over the recent years. Many dentists promote the use of small diameter implants because they involve less surgical time making them a simpler and low cost solution. Patients seeking for affordable implants must be aware that small diameter implants are designed to be used only under certain circumstances that do not allow the use of standard width implants. They are not made to substitute standard implants and only a small number of narrow width implants are approved by FDA for long term use.

Dental Implant Types - by Material

The use of endosseous implants for replacing missing teeth became possible, only when scientists found a suitable material such as titanium that could integrate with human bone. The materials used for implantation must have some specific characteristics such as immunity to corrosion, bio-compatibility, strength, damage tolerance and capacity for joining with bone and other tissues (osseointegration).

  • CP Titanium - Commercially pure Titanium is the first material found that combines the most favorable mechanical and physical properties for successful use in dental implants. It is immune to corrosion by body fluids,acids and oxygen, it is bio-compatible, hard enough to withstand the forces of chewing and osseointegrates well with the jawbone. Titanium also is almost completely nonmagnetic and is extremely strong for its weight. The majority of dental implants are made of commercially pure titanium which ~99% titanium and small amounts (0.18-0.40%) of oxygen with trace amounts of iron, carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen. The concentration of carbon and iron determines the grade of the alloy (1-4).
  • Titanium alloy (titanium 6AL-4V or grade 5 titanium) - Recently there is increased use of this titanium alloy containing 90% Titanium, 6% Aluminum and 4% Vanadium. It is believed to offer better strength and fracture resistance with similar osseointegration performance as commercially pure titanium.
  • Zircon - dioxide of zirconium (ZrO2) is a new type of material used by some manufacturers of dental implants. Zirconium is a metal with similar biocompatibility properties with titanium. Zircon implants are to be used when there are more aesthetic requirements such as for restoring front teeth but they are much more expensive than titanium ones. The Zircon type of dental implants can offer better aesthetic results because the color of the implant components is completely white and no metal is visible through the ceramic restoration affecting the tooth color.

Implant surface finish or coating

Implant surface finish or coating is another important factor for the proper attachment of implant to body tissues and the success of the osseointegration process. Manufacturers provide several types of surface finishes - smooth machined titanium, acid etched titanium, anodized, sandblasted, plasma sprayed or hydroxy-apatite coated. Implants with special coatings, such as hydroxy-apatite claimed to enhance osseointegration, are recommended for patients with low bone density or other problems, whenever there is concern for the ability of proper osseointegration or when the dentist or patient wants to speed up the process.

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Last update: 01/01/2022