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Mini Dental Implants: A Less Invasive Option?

All dental implants are not the same. Depending on how big the implant itself is, it will be classified as either a standard dental implant or a mini dental implant (sometimes called a denture implant).

Regardless of size, they are all titanium implants that fuse to the patient's jawbone and form the base for replacement teeth.

Two out of three dentists offer dental implant therapy, found a recent survey. One out of five think that regular dental implants are always better than mini dental implants.

However, the majority of dentists think mini tooth implants are good for a variety of patients.

A mini implant is smaller and thinner than a regular dental implant. In addition, mini tooth implants are also considerably more affordable. The mini dental implant surgery is also less invasive, takes less time, and heals faster.

"Mini implants have worked very well for my patients because of their low cost and immediate loading," said one dentist. One way dental implant dentists and prosthodontists use mini implants is to help denture patients.

When a patient's dentures don't stay put, the lower denture can be stabilized with mini dental implants; this is known as denture stabilization. The bottom denture will then snap onto the implants, offering better support and retention.

Mini dental implant surgery can appeal to patients since mini dental implants cost less. "They make dental implants affordable for many," declared one dentist.

"There is seldom an occasion anymore when I can't replace traditional implants therapy with minis," raved another. "I'm so thankful I can now offer a less expensive alternative that still brings a lot of joy to those patients that receive them."

Mini dental implant therapy works well for some patients, but it is not for everybody. "Mini implants are good for patients who don't want or can tolerate regular implants, but failure rates are higher with these minis," said an Arizona dentist.

A patient's dental implant dentist or prosthodontist can help determine the best course of action.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Dental Implantology

Much is being said about dental implant procedures. A national radio spot states that steak and corn-on-the-cob are no longer just a memory for people with tooth loss. Tooth implants, they say, can bring back bite strength and, certainly, improve all-around dental function.

Just what are dental implants though?

Tooth replacement systems differ but continue to evolve as materials and methods allow. Teeth implants are a great and functional alternative to removable dentures.

An implant device is inserted into the upper or lower jawbone. After a healing period, posts are attached to each implant. And to that, a fixed bridge or "over-denture" is placed by the implant dentist. This is known as the "business end" of the implant. Only the "tooth part" is visible. The result is not new teeth. But for more and more people, tooth implants count plenty as the next best thing.

Why go for it?

Over 42% of people 65 and have a missing tooth or teeth. Dentures work fine in some cases, and not so well in others. In fact, ill-fitting dentures can contribute to the loss of supporting teeth or bone, and aggravate deterioration of your mouth.

Other tooth replacement alternatives?

Well, you could go toothless. But along with that comes a change in eating habits, quality of speech, and level of self-esteem.

"My mouth is me again."

In many dental practices, implant dentists have had great success with "osseointegrated" (osseo = bone) dental implants, a system where bone and implant mesh. As implant research has grown into dental implantology, many types of appliances have been tested (and some discarded). The Branemark implant, a titanium device developed in Sweden, has the longest track record, a 95% success rate over 20 years.

What makes a successful tooth implant?

In the Branemark system, it's the osseointegration, the meshing of implant and bone. The properties of the implant are such that a chemical and mechanical bond is formed. The jawbone actually grows into the implant. But the real benchmark for the success of a dental implant procedure is this: The patient has to be happy with it. For years.

For certain people, a single implant to bridge a gap is called for. Another person might require two to support a bridge, or two to four implants to stabilize a lower denture. In other people, bone loss is already severe, and what remains cannot support an overdenture, so a tooth implant procedure is not the solution. However, when they work, they're as real as it gets.

If you think you might benefit from teeth implants, call your implant dentist for a consultation.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.