Mini Dental Implants
While dental implants can be an excellent option for many people who are seeking replacement options for missing teeth, some patients aren’t good candidates for conventional dental restorations. Some patients have insufficient bone mass in their jaws to support conventional dental restorations, while others simply don’t want to undergo longer-term invasive surgery. For these patients, mini implants can be a great alternative.
Dentists might use bridges or dentures when called upon to replace missing teeth, or they may use dental implants. While removable bridges and dentures sit atop the gum tissue, dental implants are inserted into the bones of the jaw and support dental restorations that aren’t removable. To place dental implants, a dental health professional makes small incisions into the gums and surgically places small metal cylinders into the jaw. Once the bone has successfully fused to the implant, which usually takes three to six months, a replacement tooth or set of teeth is affixed to the top of the implant, providing a secure and aesthetically pleasing option for replacement teeth that will both function and look like healthy, natural teeth.
Mini dental implants are similar to conventional dental implants, but they are smaller, meaning that they can be placed in patients who have less available bone in their jaws; on average, mini implants are about half the diameter of conventional implants. Mini implants consist of a titanium post that has a small ball on the end, and a separate socket that snaps the tooth onto the post. The socket is lined with a rubber o-ring that securely seals the tooth onto the post. Mini implants may be used to support many types of replacement teeth, including upper and lower full-arch dentures, bridges, and fixed crowns.
It takes several months for conventional implants to heal, and placing dental implants and implant-supported restorations requires at least two office visits. Sometimes, bone grafts are needed in order to increase bone mass in the jaw so that there’s sufficient support for conventional implants; in these cases, additional surgical treatments are required and additional time must be allotted for healing. If patients are unable to accommodate multiple dental appointments and long healing times, and if they have insufficient bone mass in their jaws, full-sized implants may therefore not be their best option. Mini implants can be installed in a single visit, using only local anesthesia and requiring no sutures, and the replacement teeth can be used the same day the mini implants are placed. As an added benefit, because the procedure is less complex than traditional implant surgery, the cost of mini implants can be considerably less than traditional implants. Patients care for mini implants the same way they would care for natural teeth, brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush and flossing once a day. Mini implants should be placed by an experienced dental health professional after careful consultation and planning. Just like conventional implants, mini implants can restore your ability to eat, speak, and smile normally, and a thorough dental examination and consultation can help you learn whether mini dental implants might be a good solution for you.