Mini Dental Implants
Missing teeth can be replaced in several different ways. The most modern solution are implants that provide a natural effect and are very durable. Mini implants are also available in dental offices. Below we explain what their characteristics are and what their uses are.
Mini implants were introduced to the market in the early 1990s. Initially, they were used mainly as a temporary support for treatment, but it is now believed that they do not need to be removed due to their "growing into" the bone during the osseointegration process. Because of this, they have now been approved for long-term use.
What are mini implants?
Mini Dental Implants are small screws, usually made of titanium. Their diameter does not even exceed 3 mm. Standard screws used are 1.8 mm, 2.1 mm, and 2.4 mm in diameter and 10 mm, 13 mm, 15 mm or 18 mm long. The head of the screw has the shape of a ball on which a rubber O-ring snaps into place when attaching the prosthesis.
Mini Dental Implants act as tooth roots and are usually used when the implantation of traditional implants is impossible. This is the case, for example, in the case of elderly people or people suffering from various diseases, for whom the classic procedure is contraindicated due to the excessive burden on the body. The installation of mini-implants is also recommended for patients who need to fill a narrow interdental space or who have too little bone to accommodate a traditional implant.
How are mini implants attached?
The implantation of mini-implants is minimally invasive, hence the risk of complications is very low. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and involves screwing four or five screws into the lower jaw or upper jaw and attaching the remaining part of the implant - the latch - to the prosthesis. The latches can be replaced each time they wear out. Immediately after the procedure, the patient can return to daily activities and eat something, and the benefits of mini-implant implantation are immediately visible. The prosthesis installed after the implantation of mini-implants is stable, and the patient does not have to worry that it will fall out or move while eating, laughing or talking.
Mini implants are also used in orthodontics, in a technique called anchoring. The idea is to place a screw in the bone, e.g. between the teeth, and rest an extractor on it to move the tooth in the desired direction. In this way, many malocclusions can be treated without the risk that the tooth will be moved to the wrong place or when anchoring to the natural teeth is impossible or insufficient.
In Conclusion
Mini dental implants are smaller and slightly less invasive, making them ideal for people who cannot have regular implants due to lack of bone tissue or other contraindication for the procedure. If you have been told you are not a candidate for traditional implants, call us today to find out if mini-implants may work for you!