All About Mini Dental Implants

According to the American College of Prosthodontists, it is estimated that roughly 178 million people in America are missing a minimum of one tooth. Implants are a highly sought-after option for replacing one or more decayed or missing teeth.

A mini dental implant is a newer kind of dental implant that uses a one-piece screw somewhat smaller than 3mm in diameter — a little over 1/10”. Traditional implant screws are designed of two pieces and have a diameter from 3.25 to 5 mm (around 0.12 – 0.2” across).

A mini dental implant is considered an excellent solution for those who do not have the ability to have traditional implants. However, they aren’t a great fit for all tooth loss.

Read further on the benefits, who might not be qualified, and solutions for mini dental implants. Also, learn if they might be the proper option for you.

Mini Dental Implant Benefits

A mini dental implant may be utilized to stabilize dentures, replace multiple teeth, or replace one missing tooth.

These kinds of implants provide several potential benefits, which include:

• Less invasive surgery. These implants may be positioned through the use of a localized anesthetic. The treatment is a lot less invasive than regular implants and might be less painful.
• Quicker recovery time. The minimally invasive treatment utilized to insert mini-implants means that many individuals recover more rapidly.
• Reduce cost. Mini dental implant costs may vary. However, they are frequently cheaper than regular implants.
• Less jawbone density is necessary. Regular implants require a specific quantity of jawbone mass in order to support their size. A mini-implant is smaller and doesn’t need as much jawbone mass. It’ll make them an excellent fit for those who’ve lost jawbone density from injury, tooth decay, or bone loss caused by conditions such as osteoporosis.
• May be performed without bone grafting. Those without sufficient jaw mass to support regular implants frequently should have jawbone grafting before dental implants may be positioned. Bone grafting may take up to one year to completely heal. Using a mini dental implant may avoid the necessity for bone grafts.
• Quicker results. Regular implants require several visits. That’s because replacement teeth cannot be positioned on regular implant screws until the gums and jaw have healed. However replacement teeth may frequently be positioned onto mini dental implants the exact same day as the dental implant procedure.
• May fit into smaller spaces of the mouth. Mini implants are frequently a better option to fit into narrow openings or to replace small teeth, as well as for those who have small jaws.
• Less painful to repair and place. The small size of mini-implants makes both repairs and placement less painful than regular implants.
• More permanent than dentures or bridges. Dentures and bridges will help those who have tooth loss. However, they should not be utilized as a substitution for permanent options such as mini or even regular implants.
• Prevents facial collapse. Mini implants are inserted into the jawbone, which allows the jaw and teeth to sustain their previous size and placement.

Mini Dental Implant Provides Natural-Appearing Results

Mini dental implants may offer natural-appearing results, as well as improve your dental health, in general.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Mini-Implants?

A mini dental implant is not for everyone, particularly children or any person who has a mouth that is not fully developed. That’s because the dental implant may become surrounded by a bone as your bone grows.

They also aren’t a good match for those who grind their teeth.

In addition, individuals who have specific health conditions usually cannot get mini dental implants, which include:

• conditions impacting bone or wound healing
• periodontitis
• bone disease
• hemophilia and additional clotting conditions
• vascular disease
• diabetes

Some medication and lifestyle factors also can affect your capability of getting mini dental implants, which include if you:

• are getting radiation or chemotherapy
• take any medicine that slows down the healing of bones
• consume any anticoagulant medicine
• have limited oral hygiene
• are a smoker

A mini dental implant does not need as much jawbone density as a traditional dental implant; however, some bone density is needed. That means they may not work if you have serious bone loss and decay.

Individuals whose gums are damaged or recessed also might not have the ability to support mini dental implants.

Mini Dental Implant: How Is It Done?

Step one in the process of receiving a mini-implant involves having X-rays taken. These dental X-rays show the dental professional precisely where the dental implants should be placed.

Once the dental X-rays are done, the dental professional will:

1. With the use of a local anesthetic, numb your jaw and gums.
2. Drill a tiny hole in the jaw.
3. Position the metal dental impact post inside the hole.
4. Tighten and secure the dental implant post.
5. Attach the tooth replacement to the post.
6. Make sure the tooth replacement is secure and correctly placed.

Many mini dental implants do not require holes to be drilled because the screw’s threads grab onto the bone. Also, there aren’t any stitches or sutures needed for mini dental implants.

The precise treatment steps may slightly vary, depending upon your needs. If you require several mini dental implants, the posts may all be positioned before any teeth replacements are attached.

Outlook

It is recommended to care for the mini-implants the exact same way you care for the natural teeth. Without careful dental hygiene, they may decay or wear down.

It is vital that you floss, brush, and have routine check-ups to ensure your mini dental implant remains intact. So long as they are taken care of, mini-implants are supposed to be a permanent option for tooth loss.

Mini implants have been used for only about two decades. It is too soon to know precisely how long a mini dental implant may last; however, like other dental implants, they’ll probably last several years before they need replacement or repairs.

For more information on mini dental implants contact the friendly professionals at your Sanford dentist in Sanford, FL today at 407-794-4162.