Root form dental implants are the most popular dental implants throughout the world. Although they were not the first to be used in North America the root form dental implants now compose the majority of all dental implant treatments. These types of dental implants are made to resemble the root of a tooth and come in a cylinder shape dental implant, a straight screw shape dental implant or a conical screw shape dental implant.  

Dental implants originally had a smooth titanium surface and certain ones still do. Companies have tried to improve the dental implant by making changes to the  implant surface. Making the surface rough increases the total surface area and therefore provides better stability. Adding a layer of Hydroxyapatite apparently makes the bone adhere to it better since bone is made from the same material. The rough surface can infect more easily when exposed to the mouth so there are implants with areas of both smooth and roughened surfaces. One company actually made an implant with not just a roughened surface but actual microscopic globular areas that increase the surface area tremendously. This would allow the placement of smaller dental implants with greater stability (good for areas of limited bone availability).

Mini Implants may  also be used to secure a denture  this method is faster, less expensive and  less traumatic  than  regular size dental implants. Due to their smaller size, they may be overloaded with heavy biting and fail prematurely. This treatment options may be good for an elderly person that has a top full denture which will not cause heavy bitting forces on the bottom.

One of the first dental implant types to be used in North America, blade implants are now seldom used. This is because root form dental implants offer more advantages, and more support from dental implant companies. They are placed by creating a channel in the bone,  and pressing the blade into the channel, with the crown support sticking out.

Subperiosteal dental implants are another implant type that were used prior to the advent of root form dental implants in the US. The implant is not screwed into the bone. It is placed on the bone and secured in place by the gums and something called a periosteal membrane, which acts like a sticky film and holds the subperiosteal dental implant in place. Currently, this type of implants is also rarely used.

This type of dental implant is like the subperiosteal dental implant since it sits under the "periosteal membrane" but it is additionally stabilized by bone screws that screw parts of the structure to the bone. This type of dental implant  is not common but still used for the severaly atrophied (shrunken) lower Jaw where traditional root form implants cannot be placed and grafting is also not feasible.

The trans osseous  dental implant  is a very stable implant that acts like 4 standard root form implants. It is placed from the bottom of the jaw and protrudes through the upper part. There a bar can be secured to it and a denture supported by the structure. This implant is also not performed by many dentists as it is very difficult and needs to be done in the hospital in most cases. It is a good alternative when the lower jaw is very atrophied (shrunken) and the jaw is very thin.

The Zygomaticus dental implants are very long implants that are used in very specific locations. This type of dental implant is placed in the back of the upper jaw, taking advantage of an area of bone that is still available in severely atrophied (shrunken) upper jaws. They  are usually used when a patient wants to have a full upper non removable implant supported set of teeth and does not want to go through the procedure of grafting the sinuses. This procedure is very complex and not many dentists perform it. It can also  be done  if the sinuses cannot be grafted.