Mini Dental Implants in Charleston, WV Your teeth perform a variety of essential daily functions, whether or not you are aware of it. Not only do they help you to bite and chew your food, they are critical for the first stage of digestion. Your teeth control airflow when you speak. They provide you with a beautiful smile. They are also integral to the health of your jawbone and the shape of your face. Losing your teeth affects all of these functions. At Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery, we offer dental implants as a way to replace your missing teeth. However, the traditional dental implants may not be for everyone. This does not mean you are out of luck. We are proud to offer mini dental implants, which help to make implants available to more tooth loss patients.Dental ImplantsDental implants are the latest in tooth replacement technology. They consist of small titanium rods, which are surgically inserted into the jawbone. As you heal from surgery, the bone fuses to the titanium, a process known as osseointegration, essentially turning them into strong, stable roots. The implants are then used to support your replacement teeth, typically ceramic crowns, which are securely screwed permanently in place. Mini ImplantsTypically, dental implants require a sufficient amount of bone mass for success. However, once you lose your teeth, your jawbone begins to resorb or lose mass, causing it to become weak. In the past, if you wanted to receive dental implants, you would first have to undergo a bone graft, another oral surgery with a lengthy recovery period. Mini dental implants enable you to avoid the need for a bone graft surgery while providing you with the benefits of dental implants. They are small titanium posts that have a ball on the exposed ends. Mini implants can be used in several different situations, including replacing teeth in narrow locations and replacing small teeth. They can also be used to stabilize dentures, particularly in the lower jaw. What’s the Difference?There are several differences between traditional dental implants and mini dental implants. The most notable difference between the two is the size. Traditional implants are approximately 3.4 to 5.8 mm in diameter. In contrast, mini implants have a much smaller diameter, approximately 1.8 and 3.3 mm. Another major difference between the two is the design. Traditional implants are titanium rods that are topped with an abutment, or connector. Your crowns are screwed in place. Mini dental implants do not have abutments or screws. Instead, the implants are topped with a ball. A socket and elastic O-ring are used to secure your replacement crown, or crowns, in place. Mini Dental Implant ProcedureThe procedure for mini dental implants is fairly similar to the procedure for placing traditional dental implants. Due to the size of the mini implants, however, the surgery is much less invasive and much shorter, and healing is faster. We begin with a local anesthetic and, if necessary, sedation. Incisions are made in the gum tissue, exposing the jawbone. Holes are drilled into the bone and the implants placed. Finally, the tissue is sutured closed around the implants. Temporary teeth are provided while you heal. Once you have fully healed, we then take impressions and create your permanent replacement crowns. Just because you may not be a candidate for traditional dental implants, that does not mean you have to live with dentures. There are options. Call us today at 304-345-1092 to find out if mini dental implants are right for you. |
