Dental implants come in several forms, and understanding the different types of dental implants helps patients choose the right treatment for their situation.
Each type answers a specific clinical need, from a single missing tooth to full-arch tooth loss. The decision turns on the material used, the placement method, and whether alternatives like bridges or dentures are more appropriate.
This guide covers the main implant types (endosteal, subperiosteal, zygomatic) and the materials they use (titanium and zirconia). It then explains how each option works, who it suits, and which types we fit in North London.
What Are the 3 Types of Dental Implants?
Dentists classify implants by where they sit in or near the jaw.
Endosteal implants are the most widely used type. A titanium post goes directly into the jawbone, fusing with bone through a process called osseointegration. Once stable, the post supports a crown, bridge, or denture. Most patients with adequate bone density are suitable candidates for these endosteal dental implants.
Subperiosteal implants rest on top of the jawbone rather than inside it. They suit patients whose bone volume cannot take a standard endosteal post.
Zygomatic implants anchor into the cheekbone for patients with severe upper-jaw bone loss, where other options are not viable. For patients missing all their teeth, All-on-4 dental implants use four posts to support a complete arch.
Whichever type is used, the implant needs time to bond with the bone before the final tooth is fitted. This healing phase, called osseointegration, usually takes a few months, during which a temporary tooth can often be worn. Endosteal implants integrate within the jaw itself, while subperiosteal and zygomatic designs rely on different anchoring. Planning and healing therefore vary with the type chosen.
Expert Tip: A CT scan at consultation will confirm bone depth and implant suitability before treatment begins.
How Is the Right Type Chosen?
The choice of implant type depends on how much healthy jawbone you have and how many teeth you are replacing. Most patients with good bone volume are straightforward candidates for endosteal implants. Where bone has been lost, the dentist may suggest a graft to rebuild the site. In more severe upper-jaw cases, a zygomatic implant bypasses the missing bone altogether. A CT scan measures bone depth at each site, which is what turns these options into a clear recommendation rather than guesswork.
Bone is not the only factor. Cambridge University Hospitals puts implant success at 80 to 95% over fifteen years in patients with healthy mouths. Where gum disease is present, that falls to 80 to 85% over seven years. Smokers face a much greater failure rate, and should stop at least six months before implant treatment begins. A habit of grinding the teeth also raises the risk of overloading the posts once they are in place. An assessment looks for all of this alongside the scan. The dentist settles suitability in the chair, not from a list of implant types.
What Are Dental Implants Made Of?
The material a dental implant is made from affects its strength, how the body responds to it, and how long it lasts. Understanding the different types of dental implant materials helps patients weigh strength, biocompatibility, and aesthetic factors when choosing a treatment plan.
Titanium is the standard material for the vast majority of dental implants. It is biocompatible and strong, and integrates reliably with jawbone tissue. A 2023 Journal of Dental Sciences review of implant materials reports titanium implant success rates as high as 90%. Bone quality, surgical technique, and aftercare all shape that outcome. That figure describes the material itself, on a different basis from the fifteen-year outcomes quoted earlier.
Zirconia (ceramic) implants are a metal-free alternative made from medical-grade ceramic. They are white in colour and suit patients with metal sensitivities or those for whom gum aesthetics are a priority. Zirconia has less long-term clinical data than titanium but is a recognised option in the range of dental implant materials available today. In practice, most UK clinics fit titanium as standard, and keep zirconia for patients who specifically want a metal-free option. Titanium has much the larger evidence base and the longer track record.
Expert Tip: When comparing clinics, ask which implant system the clinic uses and request published clinical data on that material and its long-term success rates. Our implant gallery shows real titanium-implant outcomes from cases at our clinic.
Silver Dental Implants: What the Term Refers To
There is no such thing as a silver dental implant, but the search is a reasonable one. Titanium is a grey-silver metal, so an implant fixture looks silver in any photograph taken before the crown goes on.
The confusion usually comes from amalgam fillings, which are silver-coloured and sit visibly in the tooth. An implant contains no amalgam, and none of it shows. The metal part sits in the bone, under the gum, and the crown on top matches your other teeth.
Different Kinds of Dental Implants by the Number of Teeth
The other way of grouping implants has nothing to do with the fixture and everything to do with how much you are replacing.
A single missing tooth takes one implant and one crown, and the dentist leaves both neighbouring teeth alone, which is the main advantage over a bridge. Two or three teeth in a row usually take two implants carrying a bridge between them, rather than one implant per tooth.
A full jaw does not need an implant for every tooth either. A fixed full-arch bridge typically sits on four to six implants, placed where the bone offers most support. That is why replacing a whole jaw does not cost twelve times what one tooth costs.
The number of teeth also decides which routes remain available. A single gap rarely calls for a removable plate, while a full arch can go either way. That is the choice most patients are really weighing when they compare dentures vs implants. The practical difference is straightforward. A denture rests on the gum and comes out for cleaning; a bridge on implants fixes to posts in the bone and stays where it is.
Types of Implants Available at Smiledent in North London
Smiledent in North London fits titanium endosteal implants, the most widely used type covered above, across single-tooth, multiple-tooth, and full-arch cases. For patients missing a complete arch, All-on-4 dental implants use four posts to support a fixed bridge. That route takes a single day. The posts go in and the fixed bridge goes on at the same appointment, so patients leave with fixed teeth rather than a removable temporary. Angling those posts to use the bone already there also reduces the need for grafting first. Every case starts from a detailed CT scan to confirm both bone depth and bone quality before any treatment begins.
Where bone volume is limited, a bone graft or sinus lift can prepare the site first. The practice arranges more specialist approaches, such as zygomatic implants for severe upper-jaw bone loss, where the clinical case calls for them. Treatment starts with an assessment rather than a fixed package, so the recommendation matches your bone volume, the number of teeth being replaced, and your goals.
Expert Tip: Delaying tooth replacement can reduce bone volume over time. An early assessment identifies the best treatment window.
Frequently Asked Questions – Different Types of Dental Implants
Below we answer common questions about the different types of dental implants and tooth replacement options.
What is the most common type of dental implant?
Endosteal implants are the most widely used type. Titanium posts go directly into the jawbone, and the approach suits most patients with adequate bone density. They have the strongest long-term track record of any implant type.
What are dental implants made from?
Most dental implants are made from titanium, a biocompatible material with a strong record of clinical success. Metal-free alternatives exist for specific cases, but titanium remains the gold standard and is what we use at Smiledent.
How long do dental implants last?
Titanium dental implants can last 15 to 25 years or longer with good oral hygiene and regular check-ups. Success rates (per the 2023 J Dental Sciences review cited above) depend on bone quality, surgical precision, and aftercare.
Can anyone get a dental implant?
Most adults in good general health are suitable candidates. Implants need sufficient jawbone density, and patients with bone loss may need a bone graft first. Dentists treat active gum disease before placing implants, and smokers should stop at least six months before treatment begins. A CT scan assessment confirms suitability.
Are titanium implants better than ceramic?
Titanium has a longer clinical track record and is used in the vast majority of implants worldwide. Zirconia suits specific cases, particularly where metal sensitivity is a concern. Titanium remains the standard choice for most patients.
Are dental implants available on the NHS?
NHS dental treatment does not routinely cover dental implants, which count as private treatment in the UK. NHS funding for implants exists but stays narrow, and strict criteria have to be met to be accepted, per Cambridge University Hospitals NHS guidance.
What is the difference between endosteal and zygomatic implants?
Endosteal implants go into the jawbone and are the standard choice for most patients. Zygomatic implants are much longer and anchor into the cheekbone. They suit severe upper-jaw bone loss, where too little bone remains for standard placement. The clinical assessment determines which type is appropriate for each case.
How do I know which type of dental implant is right for me?
The right implant type depends on your bone density, medical history, and the number of missing teeth. A CT scan at consultation will measure bone volume at each potential implant site. That measurement decides whether endosteal placement will work, or whether a zygomatic implant or a bone graft has to come first. Your dentist will discuss the most suitable option based on that scan.
Different Types of Dental Implants: What to Remember
The different types of dental implants vary by placement method, material, and clinical use case. Endosteal titanium implants are the most widely used option, with decades of clinical evidence supporting long-term success for single teeth, multiple teeth, and full-arch cases. The right choice depends on bone density, health history, and treatment goals. A clinical consultation with a CT scan assessment gives the most accurate picture of which type suits your situation.
Key takeaways for your treatment choice:
- Endosteal titanium implants are the standard choice for most patients, with a well-established success record
- Material, bone density, and case complexity all influence which implant type is most appropriate
- Alternatives such as bridges and dentures are options but do not preserve jawbone density the way implants do
- Titanium and zirconia each serve different patient needs across the industry: titanium for most cases, zirconia where metal sensitivity is a concern. Smiledent fits titanium
Choosing the right implant type is a clinical decision that depends on bone volume, medical history, and what the CT scan reveals. An in-person consultation is the most reliable way to confirm which option suits your situation.
Book a Dental Implant Consultation at Smiledent in North London
Smiledent in North London provides titanium dental implants for single-tooth, multiple-tooth, and full-arch cases. Book your consultation to receive a personalised assessment, CT scan review, and treatment plan tailored to your case before you commit to treatment.
Information Sources
Osseointegration of dental implants (J Pharm Bioallied Sci) (PMC)
Dental implant materials: literature review (PMC)
Dental implants in restorative dentistry (NHS, Cambridge University Hospitals)
