Mini Dental Implants
If you have lost all of your teeth in your upper jaw, lower jaw, or both, mini dental implants are a more affordable option for replacing your teeth and restoring your smile. Unlike regular dental implants, which require one implant for each new tooth, mini dental implants serve as a foundation for placing multiple teeth at once.
Not everyone who has lost their teeth is eligible for regular dental implants. Tooth loss and dental diseases like periodontitis can cause significant bone loss in the jaw, leaving insufficient bone structure to support full-sized implants. However, mini dental implants, being smaller and requiring fewer placements, can often be a viable option even for those with bone loss.
What Are Mini Dental Implants?
Mini dental implants serve as the foundation for a removable arch of replacement teeth, essentially dentures. Unlike traditional dentures that rely on suction or adhesive, implant-supported dentures securely clip onto the implants. This added security is particularly appealing for those replacing their bottom arch of teeth, as standard lower dentures are typically less stable than upper ones. The increased stability allows most patients to reintroduce tougher and harder foods into their diet, enhancing both quality of life and nutrition.
There are two main types of tooth extractions
Mini Dental Implants Are More Affordable
Mini dental implants can be more affordable than regular implants because fewer are needed—typically two, four, or six mini implants are sufficient to secure dentures. Another cost-saving advantage is the possibility of retrofitting your existing dentures to clip onto mini dental implants. If you already wear dentures and are satisfied with them or wish to save money, snaps can often be added to your current dentures, allowing you to continue using them with your new implants. Alternatively, if you prefer to upgrade or change the appearance of your teeth, we can create new custom dentures to complement your mini dental implants.
Mini Dental Implants Can Help Stop or Prevent Bone Loss
One reason for bone loss after losing teeth is the absence of stimulation from biting and chewing. Your teeth roots naturally transfer bite force into your jawbone, stimulating it to continually renew and regenerate. When you lose teeth, your jawbone no longer receives this signal, even if you use dentures. Mini dental implants allow the bite force to travel through the false teeth, into the implants, and then into the bone. This process can stimulate the bone and help prevent future bone loss.
Discuss with us at your next appointment whether mini dental implants are a suitable restorative option for you.