Missing Teeth? Subperiosteal Implant Questions You May Have
Posted on: 24 April 2019
A traditional dental implant involves placing a metal post into your jawbone that acts as an artificial root for your new tooth. However, sometimes placing the post into the jaw isn't possible. When you need to depend on your gum tissue to hold the implant in place, it is known as a subperiosteal dental implant. Here are some questions you may have about this variation of the dental implant.
When Are Subperiosteal Implants Used?
A dentist is going to first see if a traditional implant is possible to install. If not, they'll bring up the options for a subperiosteal implant. This situation is common if you have been missing teeth for quite a while, which has lead to a weak jawbone around that area due to it not receiving stimulation from a natural tooth.
The fear is that what is left of your jaw in that area won't support the traditional implant and it will fail over time. The dentist may not even be comfortable using bone grafting, since they have concerns over the implant failing with that additional support as well. Your dentist will recommend a subperiosteal implant as a way to give you the tooth replacement options that you want.
How Do Subperiosteal Implants Work?
The installation of a subperiosteal implant requires an impression to be taken of the jawbone using putty, but it can also be done by using specialized scanning equipment. This information is needed to create a metal framework that will support your dental implant. The framework is then inserted underneath your gums, which is what the dental implant post attaches to. The end result is an implant that looks just like a traditional implant, but held in place with your gum tissue.
Will Subperiosteal Implants Fail Easier?
The metal framework that your dentist creates is designed to fit very tight around your jawbone. Once the gums heal, it allows the implant to have the same strength as if it were inserted into your jawbone. The procedure itself is not more prone to failing than other implant methods, but it does require that you take steps to keep your gums healthy. Failure is more likely to happen due to neglecting oral care and getting gum disease.
For more information about subperiosteal implants, reach out to your dentist for a consultation. They can let you know if you will need this variation of the dental implant procedure or if you can use a normal dental implant.
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