Candidates for Mini Dental Implants

Dental implants are now well known as the strongest and most durable restorative solution for teeth that have fallen out or been extracted. Not only do they replace the visible element of your tooth, which they do use a porcelain crown, but they even have an artificial root that anchors the entire restoration permanently to the jawbone, making it more robust and stable than any alternative solution. 

Unsurprisingly, the process to receive dental implants is invasive, with the artificial root, which is made from a titanium post, being surgically implanted into the jawbone. The implant then needs to be left to heal, with the bone regenerating around it to secure it in place. This process is known as osseointegration and takes at least several months, sometimes a little longer, after which a bespoke porcelain crown is fitted to complete the restoration. 

While you have almost certainly heard of dental implants, you may not have heard of mini dental implants. Mini dental implants use exactly the same design and technique, but as their name suggests, their size is significantly smaller. Regular dental implants are usually between 3.4mm and 5.8mm wide while mini dental implants are between 1.8mm and 3.3mm in width. 

There are some distinct benefits to choosing mini dental implants over the full version:

• are faster to put into their place in the jawbone

• are easier to implant into the jaw

• cause less disruption to the jawbone, preserving its integrity

• require a shorter recovery period

• are less expensive than traditional implants

It is also possible for some patients to be fitted with a temporary restoration immediately following the placement of their mini dental implants, rather than living with a gap in their smile for a few more months. This will depend largely on the position of your missing tooth and the viability of your jawbone. 

 

Who is a Good Candidate for Mini Dental Implants?

The good news is that, like conventional dental implants, mini dental implants are accessible by the vast majority of patients. In fact, their small size means that they are actually suitable for some patients who are disqualified from receiving traditional dental implants. This is because the smaller size of mini dental implants means that even people with a narrow jawbone can benefit from this effective tooth restoration technique. However, before you can be approved as a candidate for the treatment, you will need to undergo a consultation with your provider. This will ensure that you are fit and healthy enough for the surgery, that you have no other dental work that needs to be completed before you undergo dental implant treatment and that you have realistic expectations for the outcome of your procedure. 

This will include:

• checking that you don’t have any sign of gum disease as this could put the success of your mini dental implants at risk.

• ensuring that if you have any medical issues, for example, diabetes, that they well under control.

• being happy that you don’t smoke, since smoking is a contributor to gum disease and significantly increases the time required to heal and your risk of complications.

• evaluating your commitment to your dental health, ensuring that you are aware of the importance of twice-daily brushing, daily flossing and visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups. 

Mini dental implants are a particularly good solution for patients who have previously worn dentures for some time, but the natural degeneration of their jawbone means that their dentures no longer fit as well as they could. This could be causing them to rub and become painful, or seem loose and move around, drawing unwanted attention. Mini dental implants can be used to support a partial or full denture arch, instead of using the conventional design which sits over the top of the gums. 

If you would like to find out more about mini dental implants, or if you would like to discuss your candidacy for this very effective tooth replacement solution, schedule an appointment with our dental team in Los Angeles, CA today.