Every day, numerous people around the world undergo teeth implant treatment. Teeth implants are tiny inserts, which are implanted into the jawbone, to secure prosthetic teeth. They can be manufactured from a range of biocompatible materials such as pure titanium, stainless steel and zirconia. If missing teeth are preventing you from enjoying life to the fullest, then teeth implants could be the right option for you.
The only way to find out for sure if you are suitable for teeth implant treatment is to consult with a highly experienced dental implantologist who can conduct a thorough evaluation, before giving you a definitive answer. Some of the common types of dental implants available today are endosteal implants, subperiosteal implants and transosseous teeth implants. Of these, transosseous dental implants are nowadays the most rarely used.
Transosseous Implants
Being a type of endosseous implant, transosseous dental implants require to be surgically inserted into the jawbone. They were originally designed as a secure implant system for patients who did not possess any teeth in their lower jaw, coupled with insufficient bone quantity. Most dental implantologists now recommend transosseous dental implants only in rare circumstances, preferring to use root or plate implants with bone grafts, in cases where patients do not have enough bone in their jaw.
Shaped like a ‘U’, transosseous teeth implants consist of a plate, with two long screw posts on both ends. During the surgical process, the bottom plate is pressed to the lower part of the chinbone, and holes are drilled to enable the two posts to penetrate the chin bone, and emerge through the jaw ridge, inside the mouth. Nuts and pressure plates are then used to secure the screw posts to their required positions.
The teeth implants are then left to heal for a few months, with the exact time required depending upon the healing ability of the patient. During the healing period, bone should grow so closely around the dental implants that it effectively fuses with it. After the dental implantologist determines that the bone has sufficiently healed, prosthetic teeth made of porcelain or acrylic, are attached to the screw posts, to complete the tooth restoration.
Clinical Summary & Recommendation
| A series of screws go through the bottom of the front part of the jaw. The screws attach to a plate on the top of the jaw bone and two attachments protrude above the gum for stabilization of a prosthesis.
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| Surgical Advantages: | Provide excellent stability through bicortical stabilization
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| Surgical Disadvantages | Only indicated for anterior mandible. Requires an extra-oral approach (an incision is made under the chin).
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| Prosthetic Advantages | None
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| Prosthetic Disadvantages | Prosthetic abutments are very limited and abutments may not be in the position that we would want for ideal tooth placement. Only useful for mandibular overdentures.
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| Economics | These implants are difficult and costly to manufacture. I believe there is only one source for these implants. They are very expensive.
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| Recommendations | This is basically an inferior category. Not recommended!
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