Mini Dental Implants

Serving Portland & Vancouver Metro Area

If you’re not a good candidate for regular dental implants, all is not lost, you do have options. Smaller and easier to place in tight spaces, mini dental implants are a great solution for tooth replacement if a regular dental implant cannot be placed!

Mini dental implants are less expensive, but the amount and strength of the surrounding bone must be assessed. Understanding your dental implant options is key to choosing the right implant for you.

Dental Implants versus Mini Dental Implants

Mini Dental Implants are yet another dental implant technology that can be used to help restore your smile. If you have missing teeth, we recommend to replace these teeth as soon as possible, to maintain your overall oral health, as well as protect the gums and teeth around the affected area. Failing to replace missing teeth not only makes it hard to chew or speak clearly but after time the surrounding teeth will begin to move and break down due to unnecessary forces being placed on the remaining teeth, causing alterations in appearance and even more tooth loss.

• If the teeth aren’t prevented from eroding further, this problem can become more costly than placing dental implants in the first place.

Dental implants are a proven, dependable, and comfortable solution to replacing missing teeth.

What are mini dental implants and when would I use them?

Mini dental implants are essentially very similar in purpose and function to traditional dental implants; however, their size and structure differ greatly. Mini dental implants are dental implants generally smaller than 3mm in size, whereas traditional Dental Implants are larger in diameter and length and have more surface area for the bone to adhere to. Just as with traditional dental implants, mini dental implants use a surgically placed titanium screw(s) into the patient’s jawbone that acts as a permanent anchor to affix a prosthetic tooth or dental device.

Are mini dental implants a good option for me?

Many patients are attracted to mini dental implants because of their lower cost or the inability of the practitioner to place a regular sized dental implant in a given space. One factor that is very important in the dental implant procedure is the amount of bone and bone density in the area to receive the implant(s). Mini implants offer the ability to place dental implants into areas where bone grafting would normally be required or if the bone is too thin in an area to place a traditional sized dental implant.

As with any implant, the strength and stability of the bone surrounding the dental implant are absolutely paramount for the long-term success of the implant itself. This is one area that normal sized traditional dental implants have a greater success rate because of their size, but as with any dental implant procedure, each patient’s particular case details will ultimately deem what is the best solution to get the best results. Many factors such as occlusal load, type of dental device to be supported, and whether the implant(s) is/are needed in the upper or lower jawbone will determine the best treatment plan for the best chance for success.

It is best to use mini implants in situations to help support a prosthetic device such as a denture. It is not advisable to use mini dental implants to support a single tooth crown or bridge long term because the loading forces are too great on these smaller sized implants. Therefore, you will have more options for utilizing the traditional dental implant in the future versus the mini dental implant which has limitations due to its one-piece configuration and lack of size and strength.

Portland Dental Implant Consultation

Understanding all your options when considering if dental implants are right for you should be the first thing you take care of. Scheduling a consultation with a dental implant specialist to understand your particular needs is highly recommended. During this consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss all available options, dental implant costs, healing time, and the expected final result. As this is a specialized oral surgery that can dramatically affect your comfort and appearance for years to come, careful consideration should be given to your choice of specialist.

Swiss Denture & Implant Center has helped thousands of patients with dental implants of all types for over 30 years. Call us today to schedule a dental implant consultation to find out which options are best for you!
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