Reliable Dental Implant Methods: Types and Implant System Classes

Dental implant prosthetics is a reliable, safe, and long-term solution for restoring one, several, or all missing teeth. Millions of people have been able to get new teeth through dental implants. In this article, we will look at the main types of dental implants and methods of their installation.

Dental implants Classification

We will not dwell on the technical differences for long. They are essential for the specialist who will perform the procedure. For the patient, the most important thing is the product class. Implantation systems are divided into three classes:

• Economy. The most affordable dental implants. The best budget systems include products from the following manufacturers: Osstem (South Korea), Dentium (South Korea), MIS (Israel), Alpha Bio (Israel), etc. Cheap does not mean bad. These dental implants allow you to get a good result, but only in simple clinical cases. They are demanding on bone volume. The orthopedic portfolio is limited. The survival rate is up to 98.3%.
• Business. A little more expensive than budget dental implantation systems. The choice of superstructures (abutments and other fittings) is wider. Less demanding on bone tissue volume. Survival rate is up to 98.9%. The most popular brands in this price range are BioHorizons (USA), Ankylos (Germany), Xive (Germany), etc. 
• Premium. These dental implants feature patented implant surface treatment technologies, innovative design features, and unique thread design. They have the highest survival rates, at 99.5%, and the broadest range of models for different clinical cases. The leaders of the premium segment are Straumann (Switzerland), Nobel Biocare (USA—Switzerland), Astra Tech (Sweden), Zimmer Biomet (USA).

Don’t think that higher—class implants are offered to you to make money. Often, premium materials are combined with discounts on services. This way, the overall cost of the procedure will not be high. For example, one implant can be installed for as little as £400. You can view prices and available dental implants procedures here. The choice depends on many factors, so it’s worth listening to the specialist’s recommendation. 

Types of Dental Implantation

Today, dental implantation is usually divided into three main groups. There is a fourth one—also related to implantation—but it should be considered only as a temporary option. We will talk about this below.

Classic or Two—Stage Dental Implantation with Delayed Loading

This approach involves at least two stages and several surgical operations. The first stage is the installation of dental implants, which are left alone for at least 2–3 months for complete engraftment. The second stage is removing the plug from the dental implant and installing a gum former (this is also a small but significant operation), and after some time, a permanent denture. While the dental implants are engrafting, you will walk with a removable denture, less often, with a lightweight crown, which you cannot chew, because the dental implants must engraft. Such restrictions are imposed regardless of how many teeth need to be restored, at least one or all in the oral cavity.

The pros of the method are that it allows achieving high aesthetics of the gum contour around the crown on the dental implant. It is the best option for use when 1–2 teeth are missing, especially in the smile zone, where aesthetics are extremely important.

Cons of the method: the bone must meet specific requirements. Otherwise, there will be nowhere to fix the implant. If there is little bone, it must be built up. It is especially true if you need to restore one tooth — the space is limited, and there is no possibility of moving the implant. This means that there must be a certain amount of bone tissue in the strictly designated place. If such an operation is needed (and it will already be the 3rd in addition to the two main ones), then the treatment can last for more than a year.

This is a classic dental implantation, which is already clear from the name and is considered traditional. It has been used for a long time, the technique is taught in all medical schools, each manufacturer has dental implants for this treatment protocol in the arsenal. But the world does not stand still — many people no longer want to wait months, and sometimes years, until they get a functional prosthesis. Therefore, other methods have appeared.

One-Stage Dental Implantation with Immediate Loading

If classical dental implantation is, in fact, one specific treatment protocol, then one—stage implantation is a group of different methods. This concept has many alternative names — one-phase, minimally invasive, Immediate Load Implantation “ILI” (which means “immediate load implantation”), non—surgical, seamless, bloodless, with immediate loading or express implantation. But they all mean essentially the same thing — the essence of these methods.

Pros of the method: the patient gets full-fledged new teeth quickly, they can be used for eating right away (but, of course, loading them only gradually). The method has a minimum of contraindications, fast rehabilitation, restoration of teeth can be carried out even in old age, with periodontitis or in heavy smokers, with diabetes.

Cons of the method: not always suitable for patients with 1-2 missing teeth. The disadvantages also include the fact that in our country there are not many qualified implantologists who are fully proficient in the technology of one-stage dental implantation.

Immediate Dental Implantation

Do not confuse with one-stage! Although these two methods overlap. So, the immediate procedure is implantation, in which the dental implant is placed in the socket of a tooth that has just been removed (not performed if the tooth is removed urgently, since you need to prepare for implantation). That is, two manipulations are performed simultaneously or at the same time. Suitable if you need to remove one or many teeth. But there are limitations in terms of load — it can be delayed (mainly for one tooth) or immediate (if a prosthesis is placed on a large number of teeth).

Conclusion

Modern dentistry offers a variety of dental implantation methods. The dental implants themselves also vary significantly. Therefore, there are no hopeless cases. For each situation, a qualified specialist will select the optimal solution.