A missing tooth can affect an individual’s smile, causing them to lose confidence and even their dental and overall health. One way to tackle missing teeth is with the help of dental implants. Dental implants are a life-long solution. They lend strength and stability to the teeth, which makes it easy to enjoy all kinds of foods. They also help improve jawbone health and prevent bone loss while supporting the facial structure.

Types of dental implants
Dental implants allow individuals to replace and restore any missing or damaged tooth. There are many types of dental implants based on the kind of drilling, the coating used on the implant, the type of connectors, size, and more. Irrespective of these factors, dental implants, in general, can be categorized into two kinds.

Endosteal implants
Endosteal Implants are the most commonly used dental implants globally. These implants are primarily used as an alternative for bridge and removable dentures. These include implants with screens such as threaded screws, cylinder screws, and even bladed screws. To put in these dental implants, your dentist or orthodontist will first drill a hole into the jawbone. Once that drilling has healed, they will insert a titanium screw into the hole. This screw acts as an artificial root for the implant.

Once the screw is in place, the individual must wait for the bone and tissue to heal around this root. Once this is done, the patient can get their artificial implant screwed into place. Endosteal Implants have great stability and shelf life. They also provide a feeling as close to the natural tooth as possible. The jawbone needs to be healthy and have sufficient density to get an endosteal implant. Those who have narrow jawbones need to opt for other options.

Subperiosteal implants
While endosteal implants are drilled into the jawbone, the subperiosteal implant is placed on top of the jawbone inside the gum tissue. The metal implant posts jut out for the gums to hold the implant. These types of implants are rarely used today but have become the only solution for patients with narrow jawbones. The treatment process for subperiosteal implants can be done in two appointments, and the treatment plan in general, from start to finish, is much shorter than the treatment plan for endosteal implants.

One of the downsides of subperiosteal implants is that it doesn’t provide a lot of stability. This is because the implant is not drilled into the bone but instead placed on top. Not to mention, the only thing keeping it in place is the soft tissue of the gums. That being said, it is still a better option than dentures.

Cost of dental implants
There is no one cost for a dental implant. The price of the implant can vary from patient to patient. It can depend on multiple factors such as the number of implants, the type of implants, sittings, where the tooth is located, and more. The cost of dental implants can also vary based on the location of the individual. The average price of a single dental implant can be between $1000 to $4500. The whole procedure may also cost up to $6000. This is a very steep price, but you can make it work with the help of some dental insurance or a dental loan.

If you need a dental implant but are unsure where to start, you can always check out the top companies such as Envista, Dentsply Sirona, BioHorizons, MegaGen, and even Straumann. These companies offer competitive prices, which are also covered by dental insurance.