Modern dentistry provides many options today for restoration of damaged or missing teeth. If you’ve lost teeth due to damage or decay, you may have begun researching options for replacing the missing teeth. Mini Dental Implants (MDIs) are just one option for replacing missing teeth.
A typical dental implant contains a small titanium screw that is implanted directly into the jawbone and will eventually integrate with the bone securely, functioning as a substitute for the missing root portion of your lost tooth. The process of creating an implant with a titanium fixture takes several months as the jawbone requires time to heal around the titanium fixture creating a stable base for the new tooth.
As the name implies, mini dental implants are essentially smaller dental implants – generally no wider than a toothpick – and therefore are less invasive and much easier to place into the jaw bone. They are used to replace small teeth and incisors and to anchor dentures. Because mini dental implants are thinner and less traumatic to the bone when they are implanted, most patients at our Dallas Cosmetic Dental office have their implants and restorations placed on the same day. When they leave our office they are able to eat, speak, and smile normally.
Mini dental implants are a great option for use with older dentures that have become loose over time, creating problems for the wearer when eating and even speaking. In this case, one or more MDIs are implanted in the jaw and attached to the existing denture, creating a more stable anchor for the denture and greatly lessening discomfort for the patient.
However, it should be understood that MDIs are not an alternative to the traditional titanium dental implant except in specific circumstances. At Dallas Cosmetic Dentistry, we will discuss your specific needs during a consultation and make a recommendation as to which implant option is most appropriate for your situation.