Losing a tooth or multiple teeth can potentially harm your overall dental health, as it not only hinders your chewing ability but also eventually affects your facial structure. According to reports, about 178 million Americans are missing either a single tooth or multiple of them, and a plethora of them live in Knoxville and its surrounding areas. 

Therefore, an implant dentist in Knoxville, TN, is recommended to ensure a successful dental implant for your missing teeth. There are basically two types of dental implants available, according to your specific requirements:

• Subperiosteal Implants

This kind of implant is far less invasive and risky as compared to the endosteal implant. It is more associated with a single-stage implant as it does not require a second surgery in order to secure the artificial tooth. It is typically attached to your jawbone instead of affixing it to your jawbone. It is more suitable for people who have a shallow jawbone and do not want to go through surgery that is more invasive in nature.

• Endosteal Implants

As opposed to subperiosteal implants, these are fused into your jawbone, which allows them to be more secure and reliable. They last relatively longer than subperiosteal implants, but the procedure is also more complex as it is invasive in nature. Moreover, it generally needs a two-stage implant procedure. The first one is where a structure that looks like a screw is fitted into your jawbone, and in the second stage, an artificial tooth is fixed.

What are one-stage and two-stage implants?

One-stage implants usually serve as an option for subperiosteal implants. It only consists of a single surgery procedure, and a longer implant gets placed. It leaves the end of the implant exposed, which essentially means your artificial tooth can be placed without requiring a second surgery.

On the other hand, two-stage implants typically serve as an option for endosteal implants. The entire procedure consists of two separate surgeries.

In the first one, the implant is fused into your jawbone, and when it completes its healing period, the second surgery is performed to attach the artificial tooth.

Visit a dentist in Knoxville.

It can be confusing for most people to decide what kind of implant to choose for their missing tooth. A professional not only guides you based on your condition and requirements but also performs the surgery, as it is only supposed to be performed by a professional. They possess the technical knowledge as well as the skills required. It is advised that you visit a dentist in Knoxville to make sure your current condition does not develop into something severe.