Different Dental Implant Systems
Every year, tooth loss impacts millions of Americans. Tooth loss poses a challenge most specifically to the growing aging population. Thus, the demand for reliable tooth replacement options continues to increase. Of the many tooth replacement treatments available, dental implants are one of the most popular options. Dental implant technology continues to evolve producing newer implant systems that offer increased reliability. This evolution in technology includes transformations in visual modeling technology which has dramatically improved the customization of dental implants. Additionally, this rapidly changing technology has resulted in a rising number of available implant systems. The large number of options to choose from can make selecting the best dental implant system difficult. Once you have committed to dental implant treatment, your dentist will help you work through some of the bigger decisions you need to make in choosing the right implant system for you. Here is more information on dental implant systems, including some of the major factors to consider when choosing the best implant system for you.
Popular Dental Implant Systems
Due to advances in dental technology, there is an increasing number of dental implant systems available. Implant companies are constantly tweaking the texture, shape, width, and length of their products. Today there are over 100 companies producing dental implant components, but there is only a small number of well-known and well-respected companies. The most well-respected dental implant companies include Straumann, Zimmer Biomet, Nobel BioCare, MIS, BioHorizon, and Dentsply.
Choosing Implant Components
Selecting the components for your implant treatment is a decision your dentist will help you make. When planning your implant treatment, your dentist will walk you through the implant component options that are available, helping you decide:
- which type of crown attachment you favor
- if you prefer a stock or custom abutment
- if a titanium or zirconia implant post is right for you
Each of the decisions you will need to make, with the help of your dentist, is discussed in more detail below.
Decision 1: Cement or screw-retained crowns
Deciding on how you want your crown to be attached is one of the biggest decisions involved in selecting a dental implant system. An artificial crown can be attached to a dental abutment by either cement or by screwing the crown into the abutment. When deciding if you prefer a cement or screw-retained crown, there are a number of factors for you to consider, including:
Retrievability: At some point you may want to temporarily remove your crown. If you have a screw-retained crown, it can be easily removed, however a cemented crown will be more difficult to remove. Retrievability may be a bigger issue to consider if there are a number of implants in the implant system. However, it should be noted that there are implant systems that use a cement material that allow crowns to be removed. If your implant system includes several crowns, having crowns that are cemented in place will make it more difficult to remove them if necessary. Crowns that are screw-retained are easier to remove for maintenance and cleaning.
Maintaining peri-implant tissues: The success of a dental implant can greatly depend on the health of the gum tissue in the mouth. Therefore, in order to ensure the long-term success of the implant you will want to maintain the health of the tissue around the implant. The cement used to retain crowns can damage gum tissue. After a crown is placed all excess cement should be removed; however, sometimes removal approaches are not always effective. A screw-retained crown does not involve cement and therefore is less dangerous to gum tissue.
Treatment ease: The number of implants to be placed and the overall difficulty of the implant procedure is something your dentist will want to consider when deciding how to attach crowns. Screw-retained crowns are more challenging to fit and place than cement-retained crowns. If multiple dental implants are being installed this will likely increase the difficulty of placing screw-retained crowns. This increased difficulty is because screw-retained crowns require a number of additional steps to ensure the right fit and proper support of the implant.
Decision 2: Stock Abutments vs. Custom Abutments
Another major decision to make when selecting an implant system is deciding to use either a stock abutment or a custom abutment. There are few factors to consider when selecting an abutment. Here is more information on both types:
- Stock abutments: Stock abutments are versatile by design. Stock abutments are made in numerous standard sizes and can be used for bone or tissue implants. Additionally, stock abutments are easier to measure for crown fitting than custom abutments. Because they are premade, stock abutments are usually more affordable and are commonly used with cement-retained crowns.
- Regardless of these benefits, stock abutments are not the ideal choice for all implant treatment plans. Sometimes the tissue around the abutment does not shape well to the abutment due to the standardized sizing. This issue can impact the resulting appearance of the implant. Because the implant placement is determined by the depth of the implant and the height of the abutment, the abutment sizing can make the placement of the crown challenging. Stock abutments are generally more affordable; however, they may also require more of your dentist’s time to ensure proper fit, resulting in greater total treatment costs.
- Custom abutments: The biggest benefit offered by custom abutments is they are made in the exact shape and size needed to provide the best fit. Custom abutments can be made from a variety of materials, but they are generally made of titanium, zirconia, or a combination of the two. Custom abutments are usually more expensive than stock abutments, however, they offer a more predictable fit and appearance, which may result in lower costs in the end. Custom abutments can be made for both screw-retained and cement-retained crowns.
Decision 3: Titanium vs. Zirconia implants
The third major decision to make with choosing your implant system components is selecting the implant post material. In general, most dentists will usually suggest you use a titanium alloy implant. The popularity of titanium implants is in part due to the fact that it is well-supported by research that titanium successfully fuses with the jawbone. The process of the implant fusing with the bone is critical to the overall success of the implant treatment. According to research, titanium implants have a success rate greater than 95%. However, some individuals are allergic or sensitive to the metals used in the titanium alloy implants. For these patients, metal-free implants that are made from zirconium are available. Zirconia, or ceramic, implants are just as strong as titanium implants and have also shown to fuse well with bone. While titanium implants are more common, it may be worthwhile to discuss both implant options with your dentist.
Pros of Titanium Dental Implants:
Long-term evidence: Titanium implants have been around for decades, and therefore they have a wealth of evidence demonstrating their long-lasting and reliable results. Zirconia implants are newer and therefore there is less evidence to support their long-term effectiveness.
Versatility: While Zirconia implants are commonly made as a one piece system, titanium implants are generally more versatile, with either one or two-piece system designs available. The versatility of titanium implants makes their surgical placement easier. Overall, most dentists feel that titanium implants offer more flexibility when it comes to treatment plans and more ease with implant placement.
Why Does Brand Matter?
Due to the popularity of dental implants, there are many generic implant components available. These generic components are more affordable initially; however, they may end up costing more in the long run if repeated fittings are needed. Well-known implant system brands have more research to support the effectiveness of their components. The well-established companies also offer training and tools for dentists to gain experience with their components. Lastly, with well-established brands you will be able to have your implant system repaired or replaced wherever you go.
Deciding Which Implant System to Use
Deciding which implant system is right for you can take time. If you are only considering a single dental implant, which implant system you select will matter less. However, if your treatment plan will involve multiple implants, selecting the right implant system is a bigger decision to make. The best place to start in selecting your implant system is to do a bit of research. You can start by reviewing the websites for the well-known implant brands. These websites should help you become more familiar with the implant components offered and the overall procedure. However, you should check with your dentist to see which brands they prefer, as it is common for a dentist to work with only one or two implant companies. Implants are an investment and it is important you take your time in deciding which system is right for you. As your dentist develops your treatment plan, it is important that you ask any questions you have. Once you make your decision, it is essential that both you and your dentist are confident in the dental implant system you have selected.