My family's dental health is important to me. Unfortunately for me, it is not as important to my little ones. Getting my kids to brush and floss on a daily basis is almost like taking on an obstacle course. I talked to my family's dentist about different methods I could try to encourage them to brush and floss on a regular basis. Some of the tricks worked, some did not. After some experimentation and talking to other parents, I was able to come up with a lot of great tips for helping kids care for their teeth. I started this blog to help other parents get creative when it comes to their kids and dental care.
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What You Need To Know About Subperiosteal Dental Implants
Bella Snyder
A dental implant is currently one of the best tooth replacements you can get from your dentist. This tooth replacement looks and feels like the real thing, and with proper care, can last for the rest of your life. However, there are certain factors that could mean you're not a candidate for standard implants.
One of the solutions that have come up for people who can't get regular dental implants is to put in subperiosteal implants instead. What are these and are they a good option for you?
What Are Subperiosteal Implants?
A regular dental implant requires the dentist to put in a titanium post that goes into the jawbone. It's on this post that the implant will be attached. On the other hand, a subperiosteal implant is placed on top of the bone rather than inside it. This means that it's located in the periosteum which lies between the gum and the jawbone.
The frame that supports the implants is what goes under the gums while the metal posts onto which the implants are attached protrude from the gums. To ensure that it fits, a subperiosteal implant will require the dentist to open the gum and make an impression of the bone. This ensures that the framework will match the contours and other bone features.
Who Needs Subperiosteal Implants?
Subperiosteal implants are not for everyone. These types of implants are rarer today. However, for certain patients, this will be their best option. These include:
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Patients that have experienced significant bone loss and don't have the right amount of bone needed to support a standard implant
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Patients who've lost multiple teeth in the same area of the mouth
Advantages of Subperiosteal Implants
Subperiosteal implants have several advantages including:
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They're not limited by the amount of bone present
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Patients can avoid the need for bone grafting
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The total time to get implants is shorter compared to standard implants
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The healing period is much shorter
Disadvantages of Subperiosteal Implants
Despite their many advantages, subperiosteal implants have one major disadvantage that hurts their popularity; a higher failure rate. Experts in the field of dentistry have put the failure rate of subperiosteal implants at between 30 and 50 percent. When this is compared to standard implants where only around 5 percent fail, it's easy to see why many people will choose regular implants. However, for those to whom bone grafting isn't an option, subperiosteal implants may be their best choice.
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