Classification of Dental Implants
A dental implant is a replacement of a tooth with an artificial tooth and root. The two major types of are the osseointegrated and the fibrointegrated. The osseointegrated is the preferred type of implant used today. The fibrointegrated has been around for much longer but is not widely used. Two variations of the implant are the upported denture and the supported bridge. A dentist or a prosthetic dentist can perform any of these procedures.
The osseointegrated is made from titanium and is a connection between the living bone and the artificial implant. It is made of titanium because has the same properties as bones. Titanium is also used in joint replacements. The osseointegrated was discovered in 1952 by a Swedish scientist named Professor Per-Ingvar Branemark. Professor Branemark used rabbits to study the blood flow through titanium implants. He discovered that the titanium permanently fused with the bone and did not interfere with any connective tissue. Since Professor Branemark’s discovery, these have grown in popularity and are now widely used by dentists. When getting these, the patient should not put any load on it until the it has fused to the bone. A specialist can let the patient know when this has happened.
The fibrointegrated implant is an earlier version that includes the blade and subperiosteal implants. This version is not as successful as the titanium version. A dentist can determine which type of one will be the most successful for their patient.
As new technology is being developed, dental implants are getting better. A dentist will remain up to date on all techniques. A good dentist will research the current techniques and will know the pros and cons of each. They will not perform a technique that has not been thoroughly researched and tested for the safety of their patients.