Types of Dental Implants, Compared by a Winston-Salem Dentist [Video Explainer]

A dental implant is a straightforward restorative tool that unlocks powerful tooth replacement transformations. At its core, it is simply a titanium post placed in the jawbone to act as an artificial tooth root. The technology has existed in dentistry for decades and has steadily improved as the field has advanced. Today, Dr. Keider trusts two types of dental implants: conventional implants and mini dental implants.

Each has key differences that make one better suited to a particular case, and every patient who chooses Dr. Keider as their dentist receives a recommendation built around their specific situation. During a consultation, Dr. Keider will assess your oral health and restoration goals, making a judgment call based on what’s best for you.

What Is a Dental Implant?

If you’re missing some or all of your teeth, a dental implant can enable functional replacements. These small titanium posts secure into the jawbone to replace a missing tooth root. Titanium bonds well with the body. Over time, it fuses directly to the surrounding bone in a process called osseointegration. Once it integrates, it supports fixed or removable tooth replacements: a single crown, a bridge, or a full set of teeth.

Types of Dental Implants

Why does the distinction between implant types matter? The two options differ in meaningful ways, and patients are more likely to qualify for mini implants than they might expect. Here’s why. Conventional implants are a long-standing standard in dentistry, and Dr. Keider has extensive experience with them. They use a larger-diameter post and require sufficient healthy bone to anchor securely. When patients lack the appropriate bone volume, Dr. Keider may recommend grafting, a procedure that helps rebuild bone, before placing the implant. Grafting adds a step, requires more healing time, and increases the overall cost of treatment.

Mini dental implants take a different approach. They’re a single unit with a smaller-diameter post that fits in areas where a conventional implant can’t. For patients who lack sufficient bone, Dr. Keider often finds mini implants to be the better option, not as a workaround, but because they’re specifically designed for that anatomy. Many cases wrap up in one or two visits, getting patients back to their normal lives quickly after the procedure.

Types of Implant Restorations

The implant itself is only part of the solution. What attaches on top, the restoration, is what you see and use every day.

Implant Crown: An implant crown replaces a single missing tooth. Custom-made to match the color, shape, and size of your surrounding teeth, it attaches to the implant post and functions exactly like a natural tooth. It’s fixed in place, so you’ll brush and care for it like any other tooth. It also protects neighboring teeth by closing the gap without relying on them for support.

Implant-Supported Bridge: An implant-supported bridge replaces multiple adjacent missing teeth. Two or more implants anchor it at either end, and the replacement teeth span the gap between them, fixed in place and cemented to the implants. Unlike a traditional bridge, the implant bridge does not alter or damage the structure of healthy neighboring teeth.

Implant Dentures: For patients replacing a full arch of teeth, implant dentures anchor a prosthesis directly to the jawbone rather than resting on the gums. Dr. Keider offers multiple removable and non-removable options that you could consider in a consultation.

With so many combinations of implant types and restorations available, the right treatment plan is never one-size-fits-all. Dr. Keider evaluates each patient individually to determine which implant and restoration work best together for their oral health and smile goals.

Schedule a Consultation to Explore Types of Dental Implants

No two patients walk into our practice with the same concerns. That’s why Dr. Keider builds every treatment plan from scratch. You might be a candidate for a conventional implant or better suited to mini implants. Dr. Keider will lay out your options and make sure you leave with a clear path forward. If you’ve been told you don’t have enough bone for an implant, don’t count yourself out.

Schedule a consultation to see what’s right for you.