One of the best products available today for replacing missing teeth is dental implants. A dental implant is an artificial tooth that stands on its own and can replace any tooth that is missing. If you currently want to find out how to replace the missing tooth you have, you should talk to your dentist about the two different types of dental implant services dentists offer, which are endosteal and subperiosteal implants.

What Is an Endosteal Implant?

The most common type of implant dentists offer is called an endosteal implant. This type of implant requires placing a small device, known as a fixture, into a person's jaw bone. Over time, usually around six months, the implant will fully fuse with the bone, and this process is called osseointegration. When this occurs, a dentist can complete the implant process by placing the crown on the implant with a small device called an abutment.

The fusion of the fixture to the bone makes the implant permanent in a person's mouth, and this is the major benefit implants offer when compared to other tooth-replacement options. After getting an endosteal implant, a person is often able to use this new tooth in the exact same ways as he or she uses all the other natural teeth the person has.

What Is a Subperiosteal Implant?

The less common type of implant you can get is referred to as a subperiosteal implant. This type of implant does not involve placing the fixture into the jawbone. Instead, a dentist places the fixture below the gum line but not inside the bone. This type of implant will offer durable results; however, they may not be quite as durable as endosteal implants, simply because they are not attached to the jawbone.

People who choose subperiosteal implants typically do so because they want to avoid going through a bone grafting procedure. People in this position generally do not have enough jawbone in place to hold an implant, so they choose this route to have an implant that is almost equivalent to an endosteal implant. You should find out which option is better for you by visiting a dentist before you make a decision. 

Choosing a dental implant to fill in a gap in your mouth is a great choice. Implants can last for the rest of your life and look and function like real teeth. To learn more about the options you have with implants, contact a dental clinic in your town.