At Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery, we offer dental implants as a way to replace your missing teeth. However, 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.
Traditional Dental Implants
Standard 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 implants, a process known as osseointegration, essentially turning them into strong, stable roots. The standard implants themselves are then used to support your replacement teeth, typically ceramic crowns, which are securely screwed permanently in place.
Mini Implants
Typically, dental implants require a sufficient amount of bone mass for success. However, once you lose your teeth, gum tissue in 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 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 conventional 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 full sized 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 Procedure
This procedure is fairly similar to the procedure for placing 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. a small hole is drilled into the bone and the implants are 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.
Benefits of Mini Dental Implants
Mini dental implants offer significant advantages in dental restoration. They stabilize dentures, replace missing teeth, and are less invasive than traditional implants, requiring only localized anesthesia and ensuring minimal discomfort. Recovery time is shorter, and they are generally more affordable. They require less jawbone mass, eliminating the need for bone grafting procedures. Replacement teeth can be placed on the same day as the implant procedure, saving time and maintaining the original size and placement of the jaw and teeth. Additionally, they can fit into smaller mouth areas, making them suitable for individuals with a smaller jaw.
Are You A Good Candidate For A Mini Dental Implant?
Unfortunately, not everyone can be a candidate for mini dental implants. If you're someone who grinds their teeth, you may want to reconsider opting for this procedure. Furthermore, people with certain health conditions like diabetes, periodontitis, hemophilia, and bone disease cannot qualify for the mini-implant procedure.
Additionally, if you have recently received radiation or chemotherapy or if you're a smoker with limited oral hygiene, you may not be a good candidate for the procedure. Again, while there is no strict jawbone density requirement, some bone density is still required. Hence, any bone loss, tooth loss, and severe decay can hinder your chances of undergoing the procedure.
Are Mini Dental Implants Right For You?
Just because you may not be a candidate for traditional dental implants, that does not mean you have to live with dentures. There are other restoration options for you!
Mini Dental Implant Experts Near You!
Call your dental implant experts at Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery today to schedule a consultation at a location near you!
