How Many Types Of Dental Implants And Techniques Are There?

Having a beautiful smile can not only help increase your self-confidence, it can also help improve your overall health. If you are experiencing tooth loss due to gum disease or any other reason, getting dental implants in Lafayette, CA a brand-new smile may be a great choice!

A dentist can help restore your smile and give you a new level of increased confidence. While there are several ways that a dentist can restore your smile, this allows for dental implant options for all types of candidates in Lafayette, CA!

 

Potential Types Of Dental Implants:

Dental implants are a great and convenient way to correct your smile. Traditional implants include porcelain or other restorative materials, and, while they are a good option, they can wear down and require eventual replacement. There are several different types of dental implants and restorations, including zygomatic dental implants, crowns, bridges, full arches, and zirconia restorations.

Zygomatic Implants

Zygomatic implants are typically used in patients that may be dealing with bone loss as an alternative to bone grafting, a procedure that includes moving bone tissue from one area of the mouth to another to be used as a sturdier foundation for dental implants.

Zygomatic implants are implanted into your zygomatic bone, anchoring the implant into the much stronger bones in your cheek. This process may be invasive but allows for implant options in cases where the upper jawbone is too atrophied to maintain implants.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a type of cover or “cap” that can be added to the top of a broken tooth to restore its normal appearance, function, and shape. However, in this case, they can also be used as a restoration on a dental implant, an excellent option for a single missing tooth.

Dental Bridge

Dental bridges are similar to dental crowns, utilizing the same materials and techniques, however have a different function. Dental bridges utilize your two or more dental implants in order to “bridge” the gap in between multiple missing teeth.

Full Arches

Full Arch Dental Implant restorations are the next step past a dental bridge, utilizing many different materials in order to replace not just a few missing teeth, but an entire arch (upper or lower teeth). This is a great option for patients who are missing many teeth in either side of their mouth or have significant bone loss issues, as full arches may be supported on as little as 4-6 dental implants.

Zirconia Restorations

Zirconia dental bridges or crowns are a great alternative material for your restorations that are stronger and able to better withstand the stress on tooth surfaces caused by grinding and clenching. They also come with a number of additional benefits, such as:

• Translucent, color matching options offer a more natural look.
• Minimal chances for allergic or sensitivity reaction by the patient due to higher success rates and less plastics & metals usage.
• Longer-lasting than similar porcelain implants due to increased durability and strength.

 

Are You Considering Dental Implants?

With several options to choose from, dental implants are certainly a great option to get to a new beautiful smile! Talk to our dentist, Dr. Andrew Ferrier, in Lafayette, CA to find out which option is right for you, and schedule your appointment today!