Mini dental implants is a great option for patients that want to replace missing or lost teeth but can’t (or don’t want) to receive conventional restorations. Some people don’t like the invasive surgery associated with conventional dental implants. Others on the other hand lack the bone mass in their jaws that can hold the dental implants in place.
Dental Implants and Mini Dental Implants
Dentists replace missing teeth using dentures, bridges, or dental implants. Dentures and bridges are false teeth that sit on the surface of the gum. Dental implants on the other hand are inserted on the jawbone so they are not removable.
Mini dental implants have the same structure as the conventional dental implants. However, they are smaller. Mini dental implants have two parts: a titanium post with a ball on the end, and a socket (with a rubber O-ring) that attaches the tooth to the post.
According to the Journal of Oral Implantology, mini dental implants are 1.8 to 3.3 mm in diameter and 10 to 15 mm long while traditional implants are 3.4 to 5.8 mm wide.
Factors that Affect the Longevity of Mini Dental Implants
Numerous factors can impact the longevity of dental implants. Some of the factors include:
- Lack of proper implant care
- Smoking
- Bone diseases like osteoporosis
- Substance and alcohol abuse
However, it pays to keep that every mouth is different. While two people can get the same dental implants on the same day, the longevity can still vary from one person to another.
Mini Dental Implants vs Traditional Dental Implants
Getting regular implants can take several months and may require repeated dental appointments. For instance, certain treatments might require additional visits for bone grafting. Bone grafting is often needed so it can keep the post in place.
However, other patients can’t go through multiple invasive surgeries and repeated dental appointments. Some have also lost too much bone mass in the jaw to receive traditional dental implants. In some cases, this is where mini dental implants can come in handy.
Some dentists can install mini dental implants in a single visit using local anaesthesia. Patients can also have their teeth the same day.
Benefits of Mini Dental Implants
Mini dental implants offer a lot of benefits. For starters:
- No need for any complex flap surgery. It is reassuring to know that mini dental implants often provide the same benefits as traditional dental implants. However, since they are smaller, they can be placed without any flap surgery.
- They are less invasive and will require shorter healing time. Mini dental implants will not require surgery like its conventional counterpart. Since the procedure is less invasive, the healing process is also much quicker. In fact, healing time is reduced significantly—from months to just days.
- Patients experience minimal discomfort. Less disturbance to the patient’s bone and tissue can also mean less soreness and discomfort after the procedure. If ever patients will experience any soreness, they often respond well to over-the-counter pain medications.
- Patients experience more convenience. Unlike traditional implants where the process can take many months, mini dental implants can be completed in one visit. Patients can also often eat the same day.
- Mini dental implants can prevent facial collapse. Since mini dental implants are fixed in the jawbone like a tooth root, it can prevent facial collapse that can occur with bone loss.
- Lesser complications. Mini dental implant complications and failures are very rare. This is not really surprising as the protocols and techniques used in the procedure have been refined over the years.
