Overview

Dental Implants, one of the most sought-after options for tooth restoration, help to improve facial aesthetics by providing natural-looking prosthetics and also gives convenience to eat the foods of your choice. But there might be certain cases where this option is not suitable.

Mini Dental implants are an option for people who cannot opt for traditional Dental Implants. Much smaller in size and fairly new to the dental industry, they have many benefits which are now making them a popular choice.

They are composed of two parts- a titanium piece that has a ball on each end and a socket with a ring-shaped “O” made of rubber to fit around the tooth.

A great but fairly new alternative for replacement teeth, their advantages and disadvantages give a rise to lots of curiosity in people. In this article, we will enlighten you about their benefits and drawbacks.

What are the Benefits of Mini Dental Implants?

Mini Dental implants carry many advantages when compared to conventional implants:

Quicker and Easier Procedure:

The procedure of placing the mini implants is quicker and easier when compared to traditional implants.

The whole process can be completed in half an hour as it does not require an incision in the gum or many stitches.

Moreover, being made of one solid chunk of metal, there is no additional surgery that is needed to place an abutment.

Minimal Surgical Intervention

Mini implants need a relatively smaller surgical opening and thus a minimal healing time.

Less Pain & Discomfort

One can experience post-surgery discomfort and pain for up to a week with conventional dental implants.

But with Mini dental implants, there’s minimal discomfort involved as it is a less invasive procedure.

Lesser Cost

Mini implants are smaller in size, use lesser material and have a simpler and faster treatment procedure, so they are less costly when compared to traditional implants.

Better Aesthetics

Offering the same restoration benefits as traditional implants, mini implants often provide better aesthetics than the conventional method.

No Need for Bone Grafts

Being much smaller in size, mini implants do not essentially need bone grafting even in people with lesser jawbone mass as they can also be placed in jawbones that may not have as much bone as required for traditional implants.

What are the Drawbacks of Mini Dental Implants?

Mini Implants have some disadvantages, just like any other procedure. Some of the disadvantages include:

Less Stable

Usually a lesser stable option than traditional dental implants, multiple mini implants may be sometimes needed to support the implant-supported dentures or a dental bridge whereas the same purpose can be achieved with one or two traditional implants.

Not Viable for Those Who Grind Their Teeth

Mini implants are not suggested to people who grind their teeth as they can get damaged and worn down much more rapidly when compared to conventional implants. The use of a nightguard can however help prevent this issue.

Requirement of a Healthy Jaw Bone

Mini Dental Implants may not require as much bone density as conventional implants.

However, healthy jaw bone with adequate upright bone is still a precondition to support and hold a mini dental implant.

Besides all the above factors, any damage to mini implants implies the removal and re-implantation of the whole structure, making the process lengthier and distressing for the patient.

How Long Do Mini Dental Implants Last?

Though the answer to this question is still uncertain, there are a few factors on which the life of the mini dental implants depends.

According to some studies, they can last as long as traditional dental implants if they are provided with good care and maintenance.

Some other factors can also contribute towards increasing the lifespan of the implants like maintaining good oral hygiene to ensure that the tooth is not damaged by bacteria and also avoiding using the teeth for purposes they are not meant for, like opening bottles and biting nails.

Mini Implants can tolerate only a limited amount of pressure and have a shorter lifespan of around 6–9 years whereas the traditional implants have a lifespan of over 14 years or even more if taken proper care of.

One must however keep in mind that both mini and conventional implants may fail before their anticipated time, because of the lack of proper care or because of any other medical condition.

A Word From Us

Our team of dental experts has been working tirelessly to provide the patients with both mini and conventional implants, in the process enabling them to enjoy the foods they like and provide them with better face aesthetics.

If you have suffered tooth loss, and are contemplating which ideal restoration method, feel free to book an appointment with us today.

At Morgan Hill Dentistry we believe in explaining to our patients the pros and cons of each procedure, to help them make a good decision.

An appointment with us can go a long way in putting that wide, confident smile back on your face!