There is no single type of implant that suits every patient. What is the obvious choice for one person is ruled out for another. The deciding factors are the bone, the thickness of the gum and the forces acting on that part of the dental arch.
This article sorts out the ways implants are classified: by material, by design, by how they sit in the bone and by the number of missing teeth. At the end you will find a set of questions worth asking yourself and your dentist before you decide.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is an artificial root placed in the bone, onto which a prosthetic restoration is fitted. It replaces the root of an extracted tooth and transfers chewing forces to the bone, which limits bone loss.
Implant treatment begins with a surgical procedure carried out under local anaesthetic. Its success depends on osseointegration, meaning a lasting bond between the implant surface and the bone, and healing usually takes several months.
An abutment and a prosthetic restoration are later attached to the implant, either as a crown or as a restoration covering several teeth. So the implant itself is not the end of treatment, only its first stage.
Types of dental implants by material
Dental implants are made of either titanium or zirconia. Both materials are biocompatible, meaning the body does not reject them, but they differ in colour, price and how they behave in contact with the soft tissues.
Titanium implants
Titanium implants are the most widely used in implantology and have the longest clinical track record. They are made from high-purity medical-grade titanium. Titanium implants integrate quickly with the bone. Their strength means they can be used at the back of the mouth, where chewing forces are greatest.
This material is silvery grey, which affects the aesthetics where the gum is thin at the front of the mouth. In such cases the colour can show through as a darker line along the gum margin.
At Flow Dental Studio titanium implants are available in three options. They differ in the grade of material and in whether the procedure is carried out with full surgical navigation.
Zirconia implants
Zirconia implants, also called ceramic implants, are made from zirconium oxide. They are white, so they do not show through the tissues, which is why zirconia implants are preferred for aesthetic restorations of front teeth.
Implants made from this material are ideal for patients with metal allergies, because they contain no metal in the sense of an alloy. It has been used to make dental implants for over a decade. Plaque adheres less readily to the surface of zirconia implants, which can be an argument for people prone to gum inflammation and with thin soft tissues.
Zirconia implants cost more but are more aesthetic than titanium ones, and they remain the most expensive option on the market. We make them to order.
How do implants differ in durability?
Yttria-stabilised zirconium oxide is strong enough for standard use in the mouth. Under typical conditions, both materials are similarly durable.
The difference shows under unusual loads. Titanium is more flexible and copes better with extreme forces, so with bruxism or a heavily loaded back section it is more often the safer choice. The dentist decides after assessing the bite.
Types by design: one-piece and two-piece implants
The second classification concerns how many parts the implant is made of. This affects how treatment proceeds and the prosthetic options.
Single-stage implants
One-piece implants consist of a screw and an abutment combined in a single component. Single-stage implants allow teeth to be restored immediately, because the abutment protrudes above the gum straight after the procedure.
Treatment takes less time and fewer visits. The drawback is that the angle of the abutment cannot be corrected, so the implant position has to be planned very precisely.
Two-stage implants
Two-piece implants have a separate screw and a separate abutment, which is screwed in after healing. Two-stage implants require at least two visits to the dentist, and healing can take several months.
In return, they offer greater prosthetic freedom, because the abutment is chosen individually after osseointegration. Two-stage implants are more stable and predictable than single-stage ones, which is why they are the standard implants in most clinical cases.
A separate category is temporary implants, with a smaller diameter, used to support a restoration during healing. “Permanent temporary implants” is a misleading term, because by definition they are removed once treatment is complete.
Types by how they sit in the bone
The third classification concerns where the implant is placed. In everyday practice, one of these groups dominates almost completely.
Endosteal implants are the typical dental implants placed in the upper or lower jaw bone, where the root used to be. They are screw-in implants anchored within the bone rather than on its surface. They form the basis of modern implantology, and this is the method we use.
Zygomatic implants
Zygomatic implants are used when there is severe bone loss in the upper jaw and a standard implant cannot be placed. They are anchored in the cheekbone, outside the alveolar ridge, which requires a different surgical technique. They are a type of dental implant with a narrow range of uses.
We do not carry out this procedure. We deal with insufficient bone differently: through bone regeneration or a sinus lift, after which there are conditions for placing a standard implant.
Subperiosteal implants
Subperiosteal implants are placed not in the bone but on its surface, under the periosteum. This method was used in cases of extreme bone loss and is now being replaced by bone regeneration and endosteal solutions.
This procedure is also outside our scope. In practice, almost every case can now be managed by rebuilding the bone and placing an endosteal implant.
How are dental implants matched to a particular case?
Dental implants differ in more than just material. They can be screw-shaped, cylindrical or spiral, and their diameter ranges from 2 to 6 mm.
- the diameter is chosen to suit the width of the ridge and the size of the tooth being restored,
- the length is matched to the height of the available bone and the position of anatomical structures,
- the shape and type of thread affect primary stability,
- the type of surface determines how quickly the implant integrates with the bone.
A CBCT scan is a standard test before implants are placed. We use a NewTom Giano HR scanner, and planning is done digitally by combining the CBCT image with an intraoral scan. This means the implant position is decided before the procedure, not during it.
How many implants are needed for different gaps? Types of restoration
The number of dental implants is matched to the extent of the gaps, not one-to-one with the missing teeth.
- one missing tooth: one implant and a crown recreating the shape of natural teeth,
- several missing teeth side by side: implants supporting a restoration with several crowns, working like implant-supported bridges,
- extensive gaps and no teeth: fixed implants supporting a full-arch restoration on several strategically positioned implants.
For patients with no teeth we use our own Kiss&Flow procedure, in which a full-arch restoration is made in one day, with a temporary restoration fitted straight after the procedure. This depends on the implants being sufficiently stable, which is assessed during the procedure.
An alternative to fixed restorations available on the market is a removable restoration that clips onto implants, a kind of denture on attachments. We restore missing teeth only with fixed solutions, so the choice concerns the number of implants and the extent of the restoration, not whether it will be removable.
Implant systems: does the brand matter in implantology?
An implant system is not just the screw but a whole set of components: abutments, healing screws, instruments and digital libraries. Whether these parts are still available years later matters in practice, because replacing an abutment after ten years requires compatible parts.
In implantology, well-established manufacturers have more extensive clinical documentation and a fuller range of prosthetic solutions. Systems with a shorter history can be cheaper and, in the hands of an experienced dentist, also give predictable results, but the risk of problems with parts availability is greater.
After the procedure it is worth receiving an implant passport with information on the type and manufacturer of the implant. It is a document that will come in handy for any future treatment.
The brand alone does not decide the outcome, however. The foundations of successful implant treatment are patient assessment, planning and precise execution, and only then the catalogue the implant comes from. In implant treatment, these three elements carry the most weight.
How much does a dental implant cost?
The cost of implants depends on the material and any additional procedures, and the price of the implant itself is only part of the bill. Implant prices also vary depending on where the practice is located.
In the Flow Dental Studio price list, implant placement starts from 3400 PLN, and fully guided placement costs 4300 PLN. The zirconia option, made to order, is priced at 5000 PLN. A screw-retained crown on an implant with a custom or hybrid abutment costs 4500 PLN.
- the price of the implant, depending on the material and the system option,
- the abutment and the crown,
- diagnostics, including a CBCT scan,
- any bone regeneration or sinus lift.
On the market, dental implant prices range from 3000 to 6000 PLN for the implant alone. Titanium implants are cheaper than zirconia ones, and the high price of dental implants is often cited as their drawback. Set against the cost of losing more teeth, however, the sums look different.
Contraindications and eligibility for implant surgery
Placing dental implants is an invasive procedure that involves surgery, so the assessment covers your general health, not just your mouth. There is a risk of complications after dental implant placement, and we discuss this too before you decide.
- active cancer and a history of cancer treatment in the head and neck area,
- blood clotting disorders,
- untreated gum disease and inflammation in the mouth,
- taking certain medicines, especially bisphosphonates,
- poor oral hygiene, because it has to be improved before implant surgery.
Some of these are relative contraindications, meaning they no longer apply once treated or once the approach has been agreed with the patient's doctor. Whether and where an implant can be placed is assessed after analysing a CBCT scan, which shows the height and width of the bone in the patient's lower and upper jaw.
How to choose the right dental implants for you
Before your consultation it is worth answering three questions, as they help structure the conversation with your dentist.
The first concerns allergies. An allergy to medical-grade titanium is very rare, but where a metal hypersensitivity has been confirmed, a ceramic implant is the choice.
The second concerns where the gap is. In the aesthetic zone the priority is that nothing shows through the soft tissues; at the back of the mouth it is mechanical strength.
The third concerns your expectations and means. The best solution is one that matches the clinical conditions to what matters to the patient, not the most expensive item in the catalogue.
- Which system is being proposed to me, and why this one?
- What material will the implant be made of?
- Will I receive an implant passport?
- What is the total cost of treatment, and what does it include?
- How long will the whole process take, and how many visits does it involve?
- What are the alternatives in my case?
Dental implants can last for many years if the patient keeps up good oral hygiene and attends check-ups. When choosing an implant, what counts is the patient's individual needs, not a ranking of materials, which is why we base the plan on the patient's individual needs and clinical conditions. A well-chosen implant can serve a patient for decades, provided they have regular check-ups.
What matters most?
The best dental implants are not a matter of the catalogue. Material and system are important, but assessment and planning are decisive, so the best implants for a given patient follow from their own conditions. The same implant, placed in a different position, gives a completely different result after five years.
That is why a conversation about types of implants only makes sense after a CBCT scan and an assessment of the bone. Before that, it is a choice from a catalogue, not a medical decision.
