What Are Dental Implants?

With each year that passes, dental implants become more and more prevalent.  You may have spoken about them with your dental practitioner.  So what are dental implants?  Dental implants are usually a screw-like component inserted into jawbone in order to fasten a prosthesis of some sort.  This may be a necessary substitute for a tooth root when a tooth is not able to be saved.

You may ask, what are the different types of dental implants?  Two types are endosseous (placed within the bone) and sub-periosteal (held in place under the soft tissue).  There are also different types of prosthetic connections (internal or external), and different dental implant widths.  Implants may also be described as “mini dental implants”.  What are mini dental implants?  They are implants with much smaller diameters. 

These can be used in cases where there is a lot less room among available bone.  Sometimes with mini dental implants, there isn’t much or any grafting needed, however they are not as adaptable and flexible in their use as full sized implants.  At the Baltimore Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, Dr. Steven W. Haywood will perform an examination, gather the necessary CT scan image, and provide a consultation on whether or not implants are needed.  Regardless of what type of implant is needed, Dr. Haywood will be ready to help patients find the proper solution for your permanent tooth replacements.  Dr. Haywood has prolific experience in placing single and mutiple dental implants and is considered an expert in his field.

A patient may wonder, what are dental implants made of?  Most implants these days are made of titanium or a titanium alloy, or they may be made of zirconia, which is a ceramic material for those with concerns about metals in their mouth.  Titanium dental implants are universally biocompatible and can integrate with the bone.  Titanium implants for a single tooth replacement will entail a two or three-piece system; the implant, the abutment and the final crown. 

Zirconia implants are normally created as a single piece, and the surgery is usually one visit.  One disadvantage of a one-step surgery with zirconia implants is the lack of flexibility to adjust and customize the implant  after initial healing.  It is obviously a quicker process, however.  Dr. Steven Haywood uses only the top brands of implants.  He and his team only use the highest quality FDA approved and American sourced materials and products.  

What are the negative effects of dental implants?  For an inexperienced dental practitioner, there could be many challenges, so it is best to choose a skilled surgeon and dentist.  Dr. Haywood and the staff at Baltimore Center for Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry choose the right implant solution for each patient, considering their unique needs.  Each treatment plan is customizable.  The peace of mind a patient will acquire by visiting an experienced professional helps to allay concerns of negative outcomes.  Some of the complications may include an implant that is loose, infection, nerve damage, gum recession or sinus problems.

Peri-implantitis is also worrisome in situations where patients smoke or have inadequate home care.   In some cases, a person’s body may just reject the implant, and it will not osseointegrate (bind to the bone).  The outcomes of Dr. Haywood’s cases are an extraordinary demonstration in meticulous preparation and understanding his patients.  

Dr. Haywood’s office provides exceptional dental care for those in and around Timonium, Towson, and Hunt Valley.  They can address any dental implant needs, and have placed thousands of implants for their patients.  Dr. Haywood will walk you through your options if he believes implant surgery is the best solution.  He will explain the materials and sizing of the implant needed.  He will also address any and all concerns.  Who better to explain the implant process than your local doctor, Dr. Steven Haywood, DDS, a clinician who is very accomplished in the field of dental implant placement and restoration.