Mini-Dental Implants In Toledo & Sylvania
At Our Dental Office in Sylvania
Missing teeth or loose dentures are problems of the past thanks to dental implants. Today, the art and science of placing dental implants has become a routine restorative procedure in many dental offices around the world. Now, Mini-Dental Implants are available and can reduce the time until you have a beautiful new smile.
Dental implants are an outgrowth of the same discipline of orthopedic medicine that brought you titanium hips and knee replacements. In dentistry, implants are titanium substitutes for the roots of teeth. Once in place, they become firmly attached to the bone. An artificial tooth or denture is then attached to the implant.
At Dental Health Associates, we are pleased to offer Intra-Lock® Mini-Dental implants. Intra-Lock® Mini-Dental Implants are designed to replace single or missing teeth, support bridgework or stabilize dentures. There is no surgical incision and mini dental implants can be loaded immediately to stabilize dentures or partial dentures. Crowns and bridges are placed in days or weeks instead of months.
Benefits of Mini Dental Implants
Mini dental implants are an alternative to standard implants for patients with limited or insufficient bone tissue to hold a titanium post or not enough space to support a single crown or denture. Patients who are medically compromised can qualify because the procedure is less invasive than conventional implants.
These smaller implants offer a more economical option for patients who may not be able to cover the cost of dental implants. The decreased size of mini dental implants allows for a faster recovery than the traditional option.
Mini dental implants can restore your smile by missing teeth and improve dental function like their counterparts. These restorations improve discomfort and improve your eating and speaking abilities. Replacing missing teeth can even make you look younger because the artificial pontic (tooth) supports your facial shape.
Only one visit is required for mini dental implants as opposed to traditional implants that require multiple appointments over several months and up to a year if you require a bone graft.
Candidates for Mini Dental Implants
Candidates for mini dental implants typically don’t qualify for the traditional option because they have lost too much of their jawbone density. However, replacing missing teeth and restoring your oral health is crucial to avoid losing additional teeth.
Mini dental implants may work for you if you meet these criteria:
- You are missing one or more teeth.
- You do not have enough remaining bone structure to support a traditional dental implant.
- You are a long-term denture wearer struggling with fit issues.
- You have good oral health with no active gum disease or tooth decay.
- You are in good health with no medical conditions that may complicate healing, such as uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease.
Mini Dental Implant Procedure
One of our skilled dentists will order X-rays and CT scans to confirm that mini dental implants are the best option to replace your missing teeth. These smaller restorations use a threaded screw design for minimally invasive surgery. Our dentist will inject a local anesthetic into the surgical site and nearby areas to numb your mouth, then make a tiny cut in the gums to expose the jawbone. This incision is smaller than the one required for traditional implants.
A dental drill creates an opening in the bone for the mini dental implant. Each implant is less than 2mm in diameter, so this opening is small. The gum tissue is sutured around the mini dental implant. A connecting bar is created and positioned over all the implants if the procedure is for a denture. Our dentists will fit you with an artificial tooth or denture during the same appointment.
A mini dental implant is a single piece, while conventional implants involve a titanium post, abutment, and artificial tooth. Mini implants are titanium screws with a ball-like head to stabilize a denture or a square head for single restoration. The bracket-like design helps anchor the implants immediately, and they protrude over the gum tissue to compensate for the lack of jawbone.
Most patients are very satisfied with their mini dental implants, especially patients with overdentures who enjoy improved chewing and speaking abilities, comfort, and denture retention.
Mini Dental Implant FAQs
How long do mini dental implants last?
The longevity of mini dental implants depends on how well you care for them. Generally, these smaller implants last six to 10 years, but good oral hygiene and regular dental visits can help them last a lifetime. In the best candidates, mini dental implants last as long as conventional dental implants, which is about 15 years.
Are mini dental implants FDA-approved?
Yes, mini dental implants are approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) based on extensive clinical trials and technical research. These titanium implants are safe and promote better oral health.
What is recovery like after mini dental implants?
Mini dental implants require less downtime than traditional implants. You can expect some swelling for a few days, and the gum tissue typically heals within a week. The jawbone takes some extra time to recover. Most of the healing is complete one month after mini dental implant surgery. In comparison, dental implant surgery requires three to six months for the jawbone and gums to heal before placing the abutment and artificial tooth. Mini dental implants are fitted with a dental crown at the same time as the implant procedure.
Follow our dentist’s instructions during the recovery process and use ice packs and medications to ease swelling and discomfort. Avoid pressure on the gums and eat soft foods for at least the first week.
To learn more about the benefits of Mini-Dental Implants, contact our Sylvania office.