Mini Dental Implants: Everything You Need to Know
Smaller in size than traditional dental implants, mini dental implants (MDIs) are an increasingly popular option for securing dentures and other dental prosthetics to the jaw. MDIs offer a number of advantages, including the ability to fit where traditional implants don’t. However, there are trade-offs to using MDIs as well, particularly in terms of durability and longevity.
Deciding on the right implants for you requires understanding not only your own needs but also the pros and cons of the available options. Below, we explore everything you need to know about mini dental implants vs regular implants, including when it might be time to talk to an oral surgeon about MDIs.
What Are Mini Dental Implants?
For millions of Americans missing teeth, dental implants offer a permanent smile-restoring solution. Whether traditional or mini, dental implants are made of titanium and surgically fixed into the jawbone with a built-in screw. They replicate the root of a natural tooth to hold prosthetic teeth and permanent dentures in place.
Dental implants are traditionally used to fill both large and small gaps in the teeth, replacing a single tooth or a full smile. Strong and long-lasting, they allow you to use your teeth as much as—or even more than—your natural smile. That means you can enjoy all of the foods and photos you’ve been missing.
Compared with traditional or standard dental implants, MDIs are quickly growing in popularity for their convenience and lower cost. As their name suggests, MDIs are smaller in size. They also require less invasive implantation methods, are less expensive, and can be used even with patients with bone loss in the jaw.
Traditional Dental Implants vs. Mini Dental Implants
What is the difference between a standard dental implant and a mini dental implant? While the overall structure and goal of traditional and mini dental implants are the same, there are some notable differences between the two.
- Size: MDIs are smaller in size than traditional dental implants, requiring less bone mass and allowing for easier placement.
- Structure: Made of immune-friendly titanium, both dental implant styles include a screw end for secure placement in the jaw bone. Traditional dental implants usually come in two pieces, while MDIs are made with just one. MDIs also feature a ball-shaped end that extends out of your gums.
- Strength & Durability: When there is enough jaw bone to allow it, the larger size of traditional dental implants allows for a more secure and long-lasting fit, stronger chewing force, and greater durability.
- Cost: With their smaller size, the procedure is much less invasive and expensive for mini dental implants vs. regular implants.
- Purpose: Because of their strength and stability, traditional implants work better for single-tooth replacement. MDIs work best in unison, with multiple implants supporting permanent dentures.
- Long-Term Care: Sometimes intended as a temporary solution rather than a permanent one, MDIs may need replacement over time. Dentures supported by MDIs must also be removed for cleaning daily.
What are the Benefits of Mini Dental Implants?
As with all dental implants, there are many benefits to MDIs, including:
- Increased confidence in your smile;
- Long-term, secure fit of the implants and associated prosthetics;
- Better fitting dentures without the risk of slipping or messy adhesives; and
- Better oral health, including a cleaner mouth and better breath than with dentures alone.
Traditional implants typically range between 3.25 and 5 millimeters in diameter, while MDIs are less than 3 millimeters—about the size of a toothpick. This size difference is critical when healthy jaw bone mass is limited. MDIs require less bone to take hold, so they can be implanted in more places than traditional implants.
Even better, MDIs can typically be implanted in a single office visit, and most patients only require local anesthesia for the procedure. If you already have dentures, MDIs can provide a tighter, more secure fit without adhesives. That means less risk of your dentures slipping, clearer speech, and a lower risk of food and other debris getting stuck between your teeth and gums.
For orthodontic patients, temporary mini implants can also replace the use of certain devices such as headgear, increasing your comfort level throughout treatment.
What Are the Disadvantages of Mini Dental Implants?
Despite the many benefits of MDIs, they aren’t right for everyone, and there are some disadvantages of mini dental implants.
While mini dental implants can be used for single teeth, they perform best with multiple implants working together. For every single traditional dental implant, two MDIs are needed. That means that MDIs are better for people with dentures or multiple implants, rather than patients looking to fill a small gap in their smile. Even though MDIs perform best together, if you’re looking for a full set of replacement teeth, the All-on-4 implant procedure in NJ is typically the best option versus dental implants.
MDIs also require more upkeep. Dentures supported by MDIs must be removed daily for cleaning and the rubber o-rings that fit over the ball head of MDIs will require regular replacement.
With their small size, MDIs simply don’t have the staying power of traditional implants either. MDIs don’t distribute weight as well as the larger alternatives, and daily chewing can cause wear on the implants and jaw. Because of this, mini dental implants are often seen as a temporary solution to missing teeth, requiring more frequent replacement or additional procedures in the future.
Who Should Consider Mini Dental Implants?
Mini dental implants are a great option for anyone who:
- Lacks the bone mass needed for traditional dental implants;
- Wants a secure solution for unstable dentures; and
- Don’t have the time or money for multiple office visits and/or bone grafts.
MDIs aren’t recommended for children or teens whose mouths are still developing, as their jaws need to be fully formed before implantation, however, young adults are candidates for traditional dental implants. Adults who grind their teeth should also not get MDIs, due to the added wear and tear.
Due to increased risk of infection and other complications, some health and lifestyle factors may also prevent you from getting MDIs. These include:
- Certain chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hemophilia, vascular disease, and bone disease.
- Smoking
- Poor oral hygiene
- Medications that slow healing or prevent clotting
- Active participation in chemotherapy or radiation treatment
Overall, your jaw health is the biggest determining factor in whether standard or mini dental implants are best for you. Your oral surgeon can help you understand the pros and cons of MDIs for your situation and decide on the best options for you.
The Procedure for Mini Dental Implants
More often than not, only a single office visit is required for implantation of MDIs. Because these implants can be installed without bone grafts or removal of gum tissue, the procedure is relatively quick and minimally invasive, with much faster recovery.
To install your MDIs, your oral surgeon will first numb your gums and jaw with local anesthesia. Using a drill to make a small hole directly through the gums, they will insert the MDIs into your jaw bone and tighten them to ensure they are secure. A prosthetic tooth or dentures can then be attached to the implant, using O-rings over the small ball head of the implant.
Most patients experience some soreness and swelling after the procedure. Over-the-counter pain medications and soft foods can offer relief during healing, though most swelling should subside within a couple of days. The affected gums should fully heal within a week.
How Long Do Mini Dental Implants Last?
While MDIs may be considered a “temporary” alternative to missing teeth compared to traditional implants, they’re not a short-term solution. Installed correctly and diligently cared for, MDIs should last for many years. Mini dental implants typically require replacement after five to ten years whereas traditional dental implants can last a lifetime.
Proper cleaning and maintenance, regular dental checkups, and addressing concerns before they worsen are all key to minimizing wear and making your mini dental implants last as long as possible.
Conclusion: Are Mini Dental Implants Right for You?
When your smile isn’t what you want it to be, either due to missing teeth or the discomfort of dentures, dental implants can offer both relief and a boost of confidence. Mini dental implants offer a host of benefits over traditional implants, from their convenient implantation procedure to their lowered cost, but only you and your oral surgeon can decide if they’re right for you.
For those considering dental implants in NJ, the expert oral surgery team at Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is here to help. We have been serving the NJ area for more than 70 years, with four convenient locations across Bergen County. Our team boasts the only dual-degree oral surgery and medical doctors in Bergen County, bringing expertise from both areas to our clinics and to our patients.
From consultation to recovery, our doctors and support team strive to make your comfort and well-being a top priority. Plus, our medical team is always on call to answer questions and respond to emergencies, ensuring that you get the best possible care even after you’ve left the chair.
We are here to answer any questions you have about MDIs and how they can improve your smile and life.
Personalized, gentle, comprehensive patient care is our number one priority.
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