Mini dental implants are a great option for patients who may need to replace missing teeth, but who are not candidates for conventional dental restorations. Some patients do not want the more invasive surgery required for regular dental implants, while others may lack the bone mass required in their jaw to hold regular implants.
Dentists can replace lost teeth in a variety of ways: with bridges, dentures or dental implants. Traditional bridges and dentures are devices that sit on the surface of a patient’s gums. However, dental implants are inserted directly into the jawbone and thus are not removable.
The procedure starts with a periodontist or oral surgeon placing a titanium post (also called an abutment) into the bone of the jaw. In time, usually several months, the jawbone fuses around the abutment. Once the titanium abutment is fused to the bone of the jaw, a small post is attached to the abutment which then acts as an anchor for artificial teeth.
Some patients may prefer dental implants to dentures because they are permanent, and do not shift or slip in the way dentures may sometimes do.
Mini dental implants are very similar to regular implants, but (as the name would suggest) are slightly smaller. Mini implants are composed of two parts: a titanium post with a ball-shaped anchor, and a socket fitted with a rubber O-ring. The socket allows for the artificial tooth to be attached to the post.
Mini dental implants support most types of artificial teeth and do not vary much in this regard from regular dental implants. Mini dental implants are also sometimes used to more permanently secure loose or lower arch dentures affixed to the lower jaw.
Mini dental implants can often be installed by a dentist in one visit. Regular dental implants require a procedure that occurs over several months and requires at least two separate appointments. In some cases, additional bone grafting treatments must be performed before there is sufficient bone volume or density to support the posts of regular dental implants. In some cases, patients are not good candidates for more invasive surgery or have lost too much bone mass in their jaws to receive a full-sized implant. In such cases, mini implants may be the best option.
Mini dental implants require the same sort of care as do natural teeth. Patients are advised to brush twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride and to floss at least once a day. If the gums are still sensitive after the dental implant procedure, use of an extra soft-bristled toothbrush is recommended to minimize discomfort and promote more rapid healing.
Losing one’s natural teeth can be traumatic, and can affect a person’s confidence. Mini dental implants are an immediate solution which allows a patient to speak and eat normally again, without having to wait months for regular dental implants.
Request an appointment here: https://www.poindexterdental.com or call Poindexter Dental, Inc. at (713) 244-5501 for an appointment in our Houston office.
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