What role does the shape of dental implants play? A closer look.

We know that dental implants are a key component of tooth restoration, involving the surgical placement of implants into the alveolar bone, followed by osseointegration with the surrounding bone tissue. The success of dental implants directly impacts the quality of tooth restoration, making the selection of the right implants crucial. So, how many types of dental implants are there? Let's see how the oral physicians answer.

How many types of dental implants are there?

Type 1: Hollow Circular Implants

Hollow circular implants are less commonly used in clinical practice.

Type 2: Blade Implants
 

Blade implants are mainly used for the implantation of posterior teeth. They are designed in various forms based on the location of missing teeth, the number of missing teeth, and the morphology of the local alveolar bone. Typically made of pure titanium, they can be either single-stage or two-stage implants. Blade implants are particularly suitable for knife-edge alveolar bone or insufficient alveolar bone height. The main advantages include minimal damage to the bone during implantation, a large contact area with the bone, thin blade, thick supporting bone on the buccal and lingual sides after implantation, good stability, and flexible design for special situations.

Type 3: Helical Implants
 

Helical implants come in conical, tapered and cylindrical shapes, with the cylindrical type being more commonly used. They are commonly made of pure titanium or titanium alloy, with various surface treatments such as spraying with bio-ceramics, bio-oxidation treatment, and simultaneous application of bone-forming proteins. The surface structure includes different forms of threads, holes, or grooves to increase the contact area with the bone or prevent reverse rotation of the implant. On the basis of our clinical findings, it can be concluded that tapered implants provide greater primary stability than cylindrical implants. With the popularity of loading protocols in implant dentistry, the implant surgeon can increase predictability and success by selecting a tapered implant.

The helical dental implant is divided into single-stage and two-stage types, but the former is currently not widely used. The latter has a distinct basic structure, requiring a second surgery with a waiting period of 3 to 6 months, and it has been proven to have better long-term results. A representative and widely recognized implant is the Branemark implant. Currently, the improved versions used in China are based on this type of implant.