Straight Teeth in Less Time
Subperiosteal Or Transosteal: Pros And Cons Of The Rarer Types Of Dental Implants
Lois Murray
Dental implants are a popular replacement for missing teeth due to the stability offered by a jawbone-implanted metal screw for the base. But traditional dental implants require a jawbone that is both strong and wide enough to properly hold the screw. If your jawbone lacks those attributes, you can sometimes undergo a bone graft to build the area back up, but that adds even more time to the lengthy implant process. So are those with weak or narrow jawbones out of luck?
There are luckily a couple of rarer forms of dental implants that help patients with jawbone issues. Each has its own pros and cons, and you should always discuss your specific treatment options with your dentist.
Subperiosteal Implants
Any type of dental implant contains at least two parts: a metal base of some kind and the tooth-colored artificial crown that is attached to that base somehow. For a traditional implant, the base is a jawbone-implanted screw with an attached post. For a subperiosteal implant, the base is a metal frame that sits over the jawbone.
The subperiosteal frame or plate is held into place by the tight fit around the bone and the overlaying soft gum tissue. While the end result should look the same as a traditional implant, you might lose some of the natural feel that makes traditional implants so popular. But you will get to avoid undergoing a gum graft.
Subperiosteal implants work on jawbones that are a bit too narrow or that are suffering minor decay or damage. But if there are significant parts of the bone missing, the framework won't be able to hold properly and you could end up losing the implant.
Transosteal Implants
If you are missing too much jawbone for subperiosteal implants, or if your jawbone is simply too narrow, your dentist might be able to provide transosteal implants. This fairly rare type of implant involves placing the plate under the jawbone -- so essentially inside your chin. The plate then has metal screw-like protrusions that stick up through the bone and gums to serve as the base for the crown.
Why are transosteal implants so rare? The procedure involves quite more surgical maneuvering than the other types of implants. And the weakened or narrow jawbone still risks the crown shifting around if the bone continues to deteriorate. But a transosteal implant still gives the cosmetic results of a regular dental implant and might be the only option in some cases so it's worth discussing the option with your dentist.
For more information, contact Christopher L. Schneider, DMD or a similar dental professional.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.