Kinds of Dental Implants

More than 60 companies manufacturer dental implants and/or the materials used to create the restorations placed on top of them. As a result, dentists have many options for identifying the right implant treatment for specific patient needs. However, be aware that if you undergo an implant procedure by one dentist, then see a different dentist for a repair, your new dentist may have limited experience with, or may not have access to, the implant components used by the previous dentist.

Dental implants usually are categorized based on the type of procedure used to place them: two-stage or single stage.

Two-Stage Dental Implants: A two-stage dental implant procedure involves surgery to place the implant into the jaw bone and close (stitch) the gum tissue. Several months after healing, a minor surgery is performed to expose the implant and attach a dental implant abutment and temporary restoration.

Endosteal (Endosseous) Implants: These implants are placed in the jaw bone and are the most commonly used dental implants for two-stage dental implant procedures. Placed primarily as an alternative to a bridge or removable denture, endosteal implants include screw types (threaded), cylinder types (smooth) or bladed types.

Single-Stage Dental Implants: A single-stage dental implant procedure involves surgically placing a longer implant into the jaw so it is on the jaw bone, with the top of the implant level with the gum tissue, after which the gum tissue is closed (stitched), leaving the implant head visible. As a result, after several months of healing, the dental implant abutment and temporary restoration can be attached without the need for minor surgery to expose the implant head.

Subperiosteal Implants: These implants are placed on the jaw bone within the gum tissue, with the metal implant post exposed to hold the restoration, and are the most commonly used for single stage dental implant procedures. Subperiosteal implants are primarily used to hold dentures in place in patients with insufficient bone height.

Types of Dental Implant Coatings

Although most dental implants are made of titanium, the dental implant surface — which affects the long-term integration and stability of treatment — can vary. A porous surface contributes to more bone contact than a machined titanium surface. Other implant surfaces include a grit-blasted or acid-etched and roughened surface, a microgrooved or plasma-sprayed titanium surface, and a plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coating.

Types of Dental Implant Connectors

Dental implants also may be categorized based on the shape/type of the implant head. All dental implants require the restoration and abutment to be attached or screwed to the implant head. For this purpose, there are three main connector types:

Internal Hex Connectors: Shaped like a hexagon, an internal hex connector is an opening in the dental implant head into which the restoration/abutment is screwed.

External Hex Connectors: Also shaped like a hexagon, these connectors are atop the dental implant head.

Internal Octagon Connectors: Shaped like an octagon, an internal octagon connector has an opening in the dental implant head into which the restoration/abutment is screwed.

Sizes of Dental Implants

Another way to categorize implants is based on their size (also called platform), which dictates where they generally can be placed in the mouth. However, every case is different, and individual spacing and bone availability needs may dictate the use of a different size implant.

Standard Implant Platform: Standard dental implants range in size from 3.5 mm to 4.2 mm in diameter. These comparatively shorter and narrower implants are most commonly placed toward the front of the mouth.

Wide Implant Platform: Wide platform dental implants range in size from 4.5 mm to 6 mm in diameter and are placed primarily in the back of the mouth.

Mini or Narrow Body Dental Implants: Mini or narrow body dental implants range in size from 2 mm to 3.5 mm in diameter and are placed primarily in patients with insufficient space between their tooth roots to accommodate a larger implant. They also may be placed when the patient has insufficient bone density.