Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that replace missing teeth and strengthen the jaw bone. Most dental implants are made of titanium. This metal anchors and stimulates the jaw bone in a process called osseointegration. In this process, there are several types of implants that stimulate the jaw bone and maintain it.
Root form implants resemble the root of a tooth. They can replace one, two, or the whole arch of missing teeth. Before these are applied, the dentist performs a number of incisions depending on the number of implants that are to be placed. When the implants are successfully placed, the gums are stitched. It takes about three to six months or more to heal. It is during this healing process that osseintegration occurs. The bones surrounding the implants gradually grow, giving strong structural support. Once you have healed, the implants are exposed and an extension is attached to it.
Root form implants are enhanced through bone grafting. Bone grafting is a method in which bone grafts are applied to rebuild and regenerate bone mass of the jaw in order to allow dental implants to be placed. It has many different techniques. One of them is autografting wherein the bone that is grafted to the jaw may come from the mouth or hip of the patient.
Another kind of Chicago dental implants is plate-form implants. These implants are used when the bone is narrow and bone grafting is not possible. They are flat and long, making them suitable for a narrow jawbone. The area of the jawbone where the implants will be placed is exposed and a number of incisions are made according to the number of implants, similar to the procedure of the root-form implants.
On the other hand, sub-periosteal Chicago dental implants are placed when there is not enough bone width or height to support the other types of implants. It is custom-made and placed on the top of the bone, under the gums.
Su-periosteal Chicago dental implants involve two methods. In a dual surgery method, the jawbone is exposed, then a model of the bone is made using certain materials. Implants are patterned after the model and installed. The single surgery follows the same procedure except that a CAT scan is done to make a model of the jawbone.