Are Mini Implants for You? Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’re like most people, you take good care of your teeth and realize the importance of doing so. After all, dentures can sometimes be uncomfortable and unnatural looking, so it makes sense to hang onto your natural teeth for as long as possible. Fortunately, dental implant technology has provided dental patients with alternatives to conventional dentures, and to fine-tune it even more, mini implants are available as an alternative to standard implants. Mini implants aren’t for everyone, however. Here’s what you need to know about them.

Are You a Good Candidate for Mini Implants?

As their name implies, mini implants are smaller than their conventional counterparts. Most people are good candidates for this procedure as long as they are in overall good health and don’t have any serious oral health issues. Those with gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontal disease will probably have to work with their dentist to get the condition under control before the implants can be installed. It may be necessary for you to have a bone graft if you do not have adequate bone material, but most patients who opt for mini implants don’t need to have bone grafts, and if they do, it’s only a minor procedure.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that if you aren’t a candidate for full-sized dental implants, mini implants probably won’t work for you either. This is because both procedures require implantation into the gum tissues. The major difference is that mini implants are smaller.

Advantages of Mini Implants

A major benefit of mini implants is that you won’t have as long of recovery time than if you’d had conventional implants installed. Patients with conventional implants often face recovery times of several months or more, while their counterparts getting mini implants usually recover completely from the procedure within a matter of days. Another advantage of opting for mini implants is that you won’t have to have flap surgery.

Only you and your dentist can decide whether you’re a good candidate for mini implants. Please feel free to reach out to us at your convenience if you would like to make an appointment or to get more information on mini implants.