Mini Dental Implant Tooth loss is a serious event that affects the essential functions of your mouth. Along with impacting the quality of your smile, tooth loss makes the basic functions of eating and speaking more challenging. Tooth loss also leads to bone loss in the jaw, due to a lack of stimulation. Dental implants have quickly become the most popular option for replacing missing teeth, but they are not always the ideal solution for everyone. At Durham Prosthodontics, we provide an alternative to regular dental implants with mini dental implants.What Are Dental Implants?Dental implants are a treatment designed to replace missing teeth, providing a modern alternative to traditional bridges and dentures. They consist of small titanium posts, which we surgically implant directly into your jawbone. Once the healing process has begun, the jawbone begins to fuse to the posts, gradually making them a part of your jaw. This process is known as osseointegration. The posts are then used to support your replacement teeth. Alternative Implants with Mini Dental ImplantsDental implants rely on your jawbone for stability. Following tooth loss, your jawbone begins to weaken and resorb. This loss of bone mass leaves less bone to fuse with the posts. To get dental implants, you would first have to restore the missing bone mass with a bone graft. Mini dental implants provide an alternative type of dental implant. They enable you to avoid the need for a bone graft and still receive the numerous benefits that dental implants have to offer. A mini implant is a small titanium post with a ball on the end of it. They are beneficial in situations such as replacing teeth in narrow spaces or teeth that are small. Additionally, they can also be used to anchor dentures into place, which is particularly useful for dentures that replace teeth in the lower jaw. What is the Difference Between the Two?There are a few differences between dental implants and mini dental implants. One major difference is their size. Regular dental implants are 3.4 to 5.8 millimeters in diameter. Mini dental implants, on the other hand, have a diameter of 1.8 to 3.3 millimeters. Another key difference between regular dental implants and mini dental implants is how they are designed. The titanium posts of regular dental implants have a separate abutment, or connector, that is placed on top. This abutment provides stability for your ceramic crowns, which are screwed into place. The titanium posts of mini dental implants have an attached ball at the end. A socket and elastic O-ring are then used to secure your replacement crown. How Are Mini Dental Implants Placed?The procedure for mini dental implants is fairly similar to the procedure for placing regular dental implants. However, because mini dental implants are smaller, your surgery is less invasive, and the procedure itself is shorter. Your recovery also tends to be quicker. Surgery begins with a local anesthetic and sedation. Incisions are made in the gums, and small holes are drilled into the jawbone. Finally, temporary teeth are placed. Once you have fully healed from surgery, we take impressions of your mouth to design and create your permanent crowns, which are secured into place on your stable mini implants. If you are not a candidate for regular dental implants, this does not mean that you have to be relegated to traditional tooth replacement treatments. Mini dental implants make implants available to more patients with tooth loss. Call Durham Prosthodontics today to find out if mini dental implants are right for you at (984) 312-7056. |
Contact Information3709 University Dr Suite D Durham, NC 27707-6224 (984) 312-7056 info@mydurhamdentist.com Follow Us |
