Dental Implant Types – What To Look For?
Whether you’re seeking to have treatment for dental implants in Richmond, or indeed anywhere else in the country then you might be surprised to know that there are over 150 different makes and models of implant on the market. This is despite the fact that they all do exactly the same job and to all intent and purpose, do it well. It comes as no surprise then that different dental clinics up and down the country will use different implants.
While it’s true that implant brands can differ in fitting, size and cost, the majority of clinics will have their own personal favourites based on success rates. So for you the patient, does the type of implant selected really make a difference?
In essence the answer is no! Whilst most dentists agree the importance of selecting the right type of implant to suit the needs of the patient, there’s evidence to show that only around 5% of implant failures are specifically down to initial implant selection. When you consider that out of the 10,000 plus implants that are fitted every year in the UK, only around 500 fail, this means that just 25 of these are down to poor implant selection. The remaining implant failures are often associated with other post operative issues such as a lack of good oral care by the patient, bone integration failure and in rare circumstances, implant rejection.
That said there are certain circumstances that may influence implant success when choosing a dental implant in Richmond. Let’s take a look..
Compatibility.
Bio-compatibility is a word you’ll hear a lot when dealing with dental implants. The reason is that implant success relies heavily on the ability of the surrounding natural bone to merge and fuse with the newly placed titanium implant. This creates an all-round super-strong platform upon which to attach a crown. Therefore many manufacturers will make implants that are said to offer the best levels of compatibility. This might mean roughening up the implant surface using a method of sand blasting or acid etching, or by grafting polymers onto the titanium surface.
Ease of attachment
Not all dental implants attach the same way. Some use a screw-like rod which is fastened down into the jaw bone for stability and others have a fin-like anchor which is tapped into place. The type used will often be influenced by the needs of the patient in question.
Types of materials
While it’s true that 99% of dental implants are made from titanium, manufacturers will use different grades of titanium in their products ranging from pure titanium through to various combinations such as titanium nitrade and even a mix of titanium and zirconia. That said, there is no firm evidence to support the fact that any one type is better than the other but they will differ greatly in price.
It stands to reason that if you’re going to be making an important decision about your dental future, then you need to know all the facts. So why not book yourself a free, no obligation consultation with us, where you can get all your questions and concerns answered and in return, we can give you all the information you need. Dental implants in Richmond, doesn’t get any easier than this! Call Sheen Dental today on 020 8876 5277 or visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk and take the first steps towards a fantastic looking smile.