Technical differences

There are different ways to group dental implants. Let’s start with the most complicated one. Dentists talk of endosteal, subperiosteal and transmandibular implants. The good news is that of the three only the first type is of interest here. This is the type you probably know from pictures on the internet or posters in your dentist’s office: A metal implant shaped like a cylinder or screw is placed directly into your jawbone and becomes solidly fused (osseointegrated) as bone heals around it. The metal portion holds the replacement tooth and allows it to function like a normal tooth. Implants range from a single tooth with its own anchor, a number of individual teeth with their own anchors, or one anchor holding several teeth.

The other two types are for people with extremely low bone height or people who have suffered sever bone loss in their jawbones. In both cases the procedure is much less standardized and general information as provided on this website becomes less helpful. All the information regarding procedures, complications, prices, etc. on this website refers to endosteal implants.

Removable or fixed

Another way of grouping actually refers more to the tooth than the implant itself. Teeth fixed to implants can be removable or fixed. Removable teeth are similar to a conventional denture — they're a full set of upper or lower artificial teeth made in one piece. But instead of resting on your gums like dentures, they clip securely onto the implants anchored into the bone.

All single-tooth implants are fixed, which means only your dentist can remove them. These teeth are screwed onto the implants and held firmly in place.

Conventional implants or one-day implants

Implants are also grouped according to the time required between placing the implant itself and ‘loading’ it with a crown or bridge. Conventional implants and procedures foresaw a couple of months between the placing of the titanium implant and the attaching of the artificial tooth. Advances in technology have made it possible to do it all in one go. Such techniques are being referred to as immediate implants, one-day implants, single day implants or same day implants. Read more about this in the section about time requirements – an important consideration for medical tourists.