Adults Have Many Options Today to Get Straighter Teeth

If you desperately need dental implants to improve your oral health but lack sufficient bone tissue in your lower jawbone, you may wonder if there's any hope of getting what you need. One of the things you can do is ask a dentist about a subperiosteal dental implant. A subperiosteal implant works well for individuals with poor bone structure in their jaws. If you lost bone tissue because of long-time tooth loss or gum disease, then a subperiosteal implant may be an ideal option for you. Here's more information about the implant and what you can do to get it.

What's a Subperiosteal Dental Implant?

Traditional titanium dental implant posts, or endosteal, are excellent choices to replace missing teeth. The posts fit securely inside the bone of your jaws. But sometimes, people don't have enough bone height, width and thickness to support titanium implants. In this case, they can opt for subperiosteal implant, which fit over or on top of the their jawbone instead of inside them. 

Unlike endosteal implants, a subperiosteal implant consists of a single, unique metal frame or plate that completely covers the lower jaw, or mandible. The frame resembles an intricate spiderweb supported by four tiny posts. The posts spread out along the frame and sit just above the gums. After a dentist places the implant, they cover it with your gum tissue for stability and esthetics.

A dental provider can attach teeth prosthesis, such as removable dentures or a dental implant-supported bridge, to the posts. The type of prosthesis you use for your implant may depend on your dental needs. For instance, if you need additional support for your jaws to eat, you may want to use a bridge instead of removable dentures.

Now, that you know more about subperiosteal dental implant, it's time to learn how you can get them.

How Do You Get Your New Implant?

The first step to obtaining new subperiosteal implant is to schedule an appointment with a dentist. A dentist will generally examine your mouth with X-rays to see if your bone tissue is free of disease and infection. If there are signs of an infection, a provider may prescribe antibiotics to clear it up. 

After your jawbone heals, a provider will generally make several molds, or impressions, of your jaw before they actually make your implant. The impressions allow a dental provider to construct a frame that fits the exact dimensions of your lower jaw. After this process completes, a dentist sends your molds to a lab for fabrication. Once a lab returns your implant, a dentist surgically places it over your jaw. It may take some time for the implant to heal, but a dentist will discuss what you may expect during your initial evaluation.

For greater details about subperiosteal dental implants, contact a dentist near you today, like Dental Associates PC.