What Are the Different Types of Dental Implants?
Are you trying to find the best dental implants for your situation?
Is your patience wearing thin after researching all the different types of dental implants? With the number of options available, it can be overwhelming trying to determine whether you need a single implant, full mouth implants, or another solution to your dental problems. And, once you’ve determined what you need, you still need to find a provider, explore the various brands, and schedule pre-implant services.
But, you don’t have to worry! West Wind Dental is Kalamazoo’s premier provider of dental implants. Focusing on All-on-4 implants, we are the area’s go-to source for all types of dental implants. In today’s post, we’re going to help you understand your needs, discuss what options are available to you, and – most importantly – let you know how we can assist.
So, what types of dental implants are there?
When it comes to replacing your teeth in a way that looks natural, preserves bone density, and allows you to eat the foods you love, there are two major types of implants. Single tooth implants replace one tooth without disturbing the surrounding teeth and quadrant implant dentistry replaces up to six teeth. Full arch implants, on the other hand, replace all teeth in the upper or lower arch.
Benefits of single tooth dental implants
- Can be implanted in a way that doesn’t impact other teeth
- Help to prevent bone loss by replacing the tooth root
- Offer a more natural appearance than a bridge
Benefits of full arch dental implants
- Have a much more natural appearance than dentures
- Don’t require adhesives or additional maintenance
- Restore your natural appearance and maintain jaw structure
- Prevent bone loss and promote bone growth
- Allow you to eat all of the foods that you enjoy
What types of dental implants are best for you?
While it’s best to schedule a visit with your dentist, a general rule of thumb is that if you’re only missing a few teeth, you may be better off with single implants. But, if you’re missing most – or all – of your teeth, full-arch dental implants are your best option. Of course, a number of variables can impact this decision. For example, what is the condition of your remaining teeth? What is the health level of your gums and jaw? Are you able to financially commit to full arches?
At West Wind Dental, we pride ourselves on working closely with our patients to select the right restorative options for them. Our goal is to identify your dental issues, consider the solutions available, and deliver those solutions in the most caring, effective way possible. With about 36% of the population afraid of visiting the dentist, we’ve worked hard to ensure that every patient is approached with compassion. And, to help patients overcome any lingering fears, we also offer sedation dentistry.
Finally, what types of implant dentists are there?
When considering the different types of dental implants, you can’t always separate the product from the provider. It’s essential that you work with a dentist that you can trust. We’ve talked before about who is qualified to provide dental implants. In short, we identified a handful of qualities that you want to verify:
- A qualified professional will, of course, have completed their education and attended dental school
- Implant dentists should have hours of hands-on experience shadowing proven professionals
- To stay current with the latest procedures, dentists should always be active in a range of dental organizations
- For your own peace of mind, you should insist on working with a dentist that showcases their work in testimonials
Still unsure about what dental implants you need?
If you still have questions about the different types of dental implants, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at West Wind Dental. With an experienced staff of highly trained professionals, we’re here to ensure that all of our patients are comfortable with and informed about all of the options available to them.
Best of all, we’re proud to walk prospective patients through our procedure. We’ll discuss all of the logistics, manage your expectations, and cover every important aspect of your surgery before it happens. And, of course, we’re more than happy to share the experiences of our past patients in testimonials. Once you’re ready to begin your journey toward a happier smile – and a happier life! – rest assured that the team at West Wind Dental is here to help.
Dr. Andrew Hamilton, DDS, FAGD
Dr. Hamilton is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association (ADA), the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), the Kalamazoo Valley District Dental Society (KVDDS), the American Academy of Implant dentistry (AAID), the International Academy of Facial Aesthetics (IAFA) and also attends courses with the Pikos Institute in Northwest Florida. He is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICIO), has achieved fellowship status in the International Dental Implant Association (IDIA) and in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), has graduated from and is an alumnus of the Kois Center program in Seattle, and is on the faculty of the Global Dental Implant Academy (GDIA).
The little spare time left over is spent Steelhead and Salmon fishing and the occasional round of golf.