Dental implants have shaped the world of restorative dentistry for decades. Starting hundreds of years ago with animal teeth and shells, implants have developed into a versatile and effective solution over the last few decades. They’ve been employed to replace missing teeth, serve as a foundation for various restorations, and stabilize loose dentures. These titanium posts, implanted into the jawbone, stimulate the bone to prevent density loss and changes in appearance. They’ve truly done it all, but like every great technology, something newer and better eventually comes along to replace it. We’re talking about mini dental implants, the innovative solution where less is more—five times less.
Mini Implants Are… LESS INVASIVE
In medical terms, an invasive procedure is one that has to get access to the inside of your body using medical tools. For traditional dental implants, an incision in the gums is necessary to place the implant. This incision then also requires stitches in order to heal afterward. Even though it’s considered minor, getting dental implants still qualifies as a surgical procedure because of this incision.
On the other hand, mini dental implants require no incision to place, only a small pilot hole. Consider it similar to getting your ears pierced, and you’ve got the right idea. This minimally invasive procedure can put at ease anyone who worries about the words “surgery” and “incision.”
Mini Implants Involve… LESS PAIN
Your comfort and peace of mind are a major focus during the placement procedure. Our caring, compassionate staff uses a local anesthetic to ensure a pain-free experience. Our practice is also trained in sedation dentistry. Techniques like administering nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral conscious sedation are designed to alleviate dental anxiety, enabling sensitive patients to receive essential oral health care comfortably. Our attentive team will carefully monitor your medication to ensure precise dosage, prioritizing your safety and well-being during the procedure.
The minimally invasive nature of the placement procedure means there’s less pain to deal with afterward. You will feel some minor discomfort, but nothing that over-the-counter medications and a cold compress can’t handle. After the procedure, most patients report feeling back to normal within 24-48 hours.
Mini Implants Require… LESS HEALING TIME
Because traditional dental implants are larger than mini implants—averaging 5 mm versus less than 3 mm—they need more time to fully integrate with your jawbone. This process, called osseointegration, can take anywhere from 3-6 months, and that’s without the possibility of needing a bone graft procedure, which would add more time. During this time, you must adhere to a careful diet and be aware of chewing, brushing, or flossing near the implants. We cannot place the final restorations until the healing process is complete.
If you want to turn those months of waiting time into weeks, then mini implants are a better option. Mini implants not only osseointegrate in just a few weeks, but they’re ready for the final restoration immediately after placement. Whether it’s for a dental crown, an implant-supported bridge, or a full set of implant dentures, you can complete the entire process in just one visit.
Mini Implant Placement Involves… LESS VISITS
Conventional dental implants require at least two visits to complete. The first one is for the minor surgical procedure where we place the implant, and once the healing is complete, the second visit is where we install the abutment and place the final restoration. In addition to that, during the 3-6 month healing process for traditional implants, there will need to be some follow-up visits to ensure proper osseointegration and healing of the implant site. With mini implants, everything can be done in one visit. That means less time waiting and more time enjoying your new teeth.
(To the grammarians out there, we know the heading to this section should technically be “Fewer Visits,” but we wanted to stick with the theme.)
Mini Implants Are… LESS EXPENSIVE
Do you know all those extra visits for traditional implants we just mentioned? Each extra visit means extra money coming out of your pocket. Mini implants streamline the process; everything is completed in a single visit, and you walk out with brand-new teeth. This allows them to be more cost-effective than many other restorative procedures.
If you’re the type of person who thinks time is money, then mini dental implants are worth every penny.
Schedule Your FREE Consultation Today
Still not convinced that mini dental implants are the superior choice for replacing missing teeth? Schedule a free consultation at the Mini Dental Implant Center of America in Cleveland, TN, and let our three generations of dentists show you how less really is more with mini implants.
