You expect your teeth to last a lifetime. If they don’t, you’ll want durable, comfortable replacements that are as easy to maintain as your natural 
teeth.
Dental implants are not limited to patients who only need to replace one tooth, or even two or three. Implant posts can hold individual crowns or anchor bridgework or dentures. I may even combine several approaches to develop a customized treatment plan for you.
Every patient is unique, but the positive aspects of living with dental implants are universal.
These include:
- Bone retention in your jaw. Dental implants keep your bone healthy by acting as your natural tooth root would, stimulating the bone to reduce potential for degeneration.
- A long-lasting result. With proper care and maintenance, dental implants are incredibly secure and durable.
- No need for fixatives. Since an implant anchors a restoration, no clasps or adhesives are necessary, and healthy surrounding teeth aren’t altered. Instead, implants stand alone.
- A natural look and feel. Dental implant restorations blend seamlessly with surrounding teeth, and with the sturdy anchor of the implant post, you’ll never worry over potential chewing mishaps.
Dental cleanings are important for everyone, but especially for patients with dental implants. Implants are a valuable investment in long-term oral health and beauty. I encourage patients to protect that investment with professional dental hygiene.
Cleaning Frequency
In the first year following dental implant surgery, you’ll visit my office every three months for a comprehensive cleaning, then every three to six months after that. Why so often? The gum tissue surrounding an implant requires specialized care to maintain optimal health and provide a lasting, protective bond with replacement teeth. In addition, we’ll remove your implant crowns every few years for additional cleaning, then re-attach them. Don’t worry – you’ll never be without teeth outside of our office.
Tools and Technology
The hygienist will use state-of-the-art tools to gently clean your dental implant restorations, as well as your natural teeth. Removing plaque, tartar, and hardened food particles deters decay and prevents gum disease, a destructive bacterial infection that can compromise the longevity of dental implants and lead to decreased oral and overall health.
Dental implants have proven to be a viable and healthy solution for many who suffer from tooth loss as a result of causes ranging from health decisions to genetic misfortune. Mini implants are one of the most advanced and effective solutions for the replacement of natural teeth. They can be a solution for those that have significant bone loss or are looking for a more affordable option to full dental implants.
What Are Mini Dental Implants?
Mini implants are a smaller version of a full-sized dental implant. They are toothpick thin posts that are made from titanium. Most frequently mini implants are used to stabilize the lower denture helping to eliminate the discomfort of a moving denture. Mini implants come with many advantages; however, they also carry with them limitations, as is outlined below.
Advantages of Mini Implants
- The surgery is minimally invasive.
- The entire process takes only a few hours. The patient can walk in to the office in the morning and out the same day with a full set of teeth.
- The quick recovery of a mini implant patient can allow the patient to eat the same day.
- It is a solution for patients that have significant bone loss that restrict them from being candidate for full dental implants.
- It is a solution for patients that cannot have surgery for medical reasons.
- Mini implants requires no sutures or long recovery periods.
Limitations on Mini Implants
- Mini implants are not an ideal, long-term solution based on the thinness of the implant.
- Non-removable dentures are not an option with mini implants.
- Mini implants do not offer the same degree of stability that a normal dental implant does.
- Some of the same drawbacks of traditional dentures apply when mini implants are used: somewhat uncomfortable, clicking, and esthetic drawbacks such as bad breath.
- They can only be used on the lower arch. The upper arch does not integrate with the implants.
- Metal fatigue is a risk with mini implants due to their size, so they can malfunction.
The best long-term option is a full dental implant, however, the cost is higher. Mini implants are a good alternative, but they cannot be seen as a replacement to natural teeth to the same degree that a dental implant is considered.
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Photo Credit: Braun Dental