More and more patients are becoming eligible for dental implants in State College every day! Thanks to bone grafting techniques, people who didn’t have enough bone to sustain an implant can do so far more easily, giving them the chance to a new life of smiles. Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t alternatives to implants your dentist wants to share as well.
Through immediate load implants, mini dental implants, and All-on-4, patients can reap the benefits of a restored smile and function, without going the traditional route. Learn what they are in part two of our series on everything you need to know about dental implants!
Immediate Load Dental Implants
These implants are typically saved for patients who have enough natural bone to receive an implant right away. Also known as Teeth in a Day, immediate load dental implants are able to receive a temporary tooth the same day as your implantation. As long as you stick closely to your dentist’s instructions on caring for your implant, you can enjoy similar success rates to implants loaded in traditional ways. If you don’t want to deal with a dental prosthesis or missing teeth for the three to six months needed for the gums and bone to heal, ask your dentist about this option.
After having the implant and crown placed, you’ll need to make sure you don’t smoke or use tobacco products of any kind. This will negatively affect the implant’s ability to heal. You’ll also have to make subtle changes to your diet since the implant will be exposed to biting forces throughout the day.
Mini Dental Implants (MDIs)
Also referred to as small or narrow diameter implants, these are about as thick as toothpicks and far thinner than most dental implants typically used. Because of their smaller size, they’re considered less invasive, making it easier for the area to heal. It’s also more likely that it can be given a restoration immediately after placement.
While mini dental implants are typically used to better stabilize a lower denture, it doesn’t mean patients with reduced bone density can’t benefit from them. In most cases, they’re often cheaper than traditional implants because they require less material to create. They also help patients maintain their current bone structure.
All-on-4 Implantation
Instead of replacing an entire lower or upper arch with individual implants, your State College dentist can utilize just four strategically placed implants to hold a fixed prosthetic. These four implants are placed in areas where your current bone can be utilized, often reducing the need for bone grafting.
Once your abutments and temporary teeth are placed, you’ll be asked to modify your diet while the gum tissues and bone heal around your implants. Once they’ve healed and you have your permanent prosthetic placed, you can resume your previous diet.
Dental implants in State College are becoming more and more advanced, so there’s no reason not to consider them. Schedule a consultation with your dentist today to determine which is best for your case!
About the Author
Dr. Chris J. Delvin earned his dental degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Today, he’s astounded by how much the materials and technology have improved in dentistry, including for dental implants. To learn more about his practice, contact him through his website.