Your oral surgeon has numerous options when it comes to replacing teeth in your mouth. Full dental implants may not be suitable for every patient and situation. Even if you are not a candidate for a full dental implant, you may still be able to receive a mini-implant, which can help you obtain a new smile and the appearance that you want. Mini dental implants can allow more people to receive the benefits of an implant beyond those who may be suitable for full dental implants.
Mini Dental Implants Are Somewhat Smaller
A traditional dental implant measures between 3.25 and 5 millimeters in diameter. A mini dental implant is called that because it is smaller than the traditional implant. Many implants measure less than three inches in diameter. They are specifically designed to be smaller, both so they can be better accommodated by your mouth and to allow for an easier surgical procedure. Mini-implants have only one screw, as opposed to traditional implants, which have two.
Mini Dental Implants May Be Suitable for Those with Less Jawbone Mass
Some patients are not suitable candidates for dental implant surgery because of the condition of their jaw. Traditional dental implants require suitable jawbone density to be fully supported. If you do not have enough mass in your jaw, you may require bone grafting before you are a candidate for full dental implants. However, mini dental implants do not require the same amount of jawbone mass. You may be able to receive a mini dental implant, even if you have had some significant bone loss.
Other Situations That May Allow Mini Dental Implants
Further, there may be smaller teeth in certain parts of your mouth that may not be meant to go over a larger implant. For example, you often have smaller teeth located in the front of your mouth, and that is a place where you may receive a mini dental implant. Since the procedure is less invasive, mini dental implants may also be suitable for those patients who may not have the ability to undergo a full surgical procedure.
Finally, mini dental implants may also be used as an anchor in your mouth to support a full set of dentures. The presence of the implant can provide for a more secure fit in your mouth.
The Benefits of Mini Dental Implants
Mini dental implants have many benefits, including:
- The surgical procedure to implant them is less invasive
- There may be a quicker recovery time
- They are often less expensive than traditional dental implants
- You may have the tooth placed on a mini dental implant in the same day as the procedure
- They can fit into smaller areas of your mouth
- There may be less pain associated with the procedure, and your recovery
Mini dental implants can still provide you with the same results. They can still last for a long time, although they may not be as durable as a full dental implant. Nonetheless, mini dental implants are intended to provide you with a solution to tooth loss that can still allow you to have a new tooth, even if you are not a candidate for a full dental implant.
Contact the South Jersey Oral Surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Today
The South Jersey oral surgeons at Lanzi Burke Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons can assess whether you are a candidate for dental implant surgery. Even if a full dental implant procedure is not right for you, there are still other solutions that we may recommend, such as mini dental implants. Call us today at 856-582-4222 or contact us online to schedule an initial and comprehensive evaluation with one of our oral surgeons. Our offices are located in Washington Township, Haddonfield, and Woolwich Township, New Jersey, and we treat patients throughout South Jersey.