Types of Dental Implants

Michaels Oral Surgery is capable of handling a wide variety of implant-supported replacement options, so if you’re missing one tooth or all of your teeth, we can help! Each patient is unique and our skilled team can explain which treatment option is best for you.

1. Ball Attachment Denture

This is where you have two implants placed in your lower jaw and a denture made that snaps onto these implants. This allows your lower denture to be more stable while chewing than without implants. However, there will still be movement of your lower denture. As with all removable replacement teeth, you still will need periodic appointments for denture adjustment.

2. Bar Attachment Denture

This procedure involves placing four to six implants, depending on your jaw size or shape, into your upper or lower jaw. After healing is complete, the dental implants are connected with a custom-made support bar. Your denture will be made with special internal retention clips that attach onto the support bar, enabling the denture to snap firmly into place. The advantage of this option is that it is much more stable than the first option and allows very little denture movement. Your denture is still removable for easy cleaning and maintenance.

3. Screw Retained Denture

A third option involves placing four to six implants in your jaw and attaching a permanent denture. Your denture is held in place by screws that secure it to the support posts. It doesn’t touch the gum tissue, which allows you to clean under the denture without removing it. This denture will replace all your missing upper or lower teeth and will not be removed except at maintenance visits. Many patients who want a permanent denture prefer this option.

4. Individual Implants

The final option is to have all your teeth individually replaced so that they will appear to be growing out of your gum tissue and will most closely resemble the appearance of your natural teeth. This option usually requires eight or more implants. Separate abutments or support posts for each one of these implants will be made and crowns for each missing tooth will be placed.

5. Implant Retained Upper Bridge