cording to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, around three million people in the U.S. have dental implants. As many as a half million people are now projected to get a dental implant within the next 12 months. A growing number of those who’ve already received a dental implant have been recipients of what are commonly known as minimally invasive or mini dental implants instead of traditional implants. While smaller, these mini implants let you smile, chew, and do all you’d do with your natural teeth but at less cost than what you’d pay for traditional implants.

How do you know if mini dental implants the solution for your own oral health situation? And, what makes them different from traditional dental implants? Understanding these and other benefits about these less invasive implant devices can ultimately help you make a more informed decision on how to proceed when you’ve lost your natural teeth.

Traditional Dental Implants: This can be a three or even four-step procedure requiring recovery time between certain steps.

• Depending on your jawbone’s health and density, you might need a bone graft to support the implant. A recovery period post-graft is necessary before implant can then be placed and/or utilized.
• An implant dental surgeon cuts an incision in the gums to implant a cylindrical post into your jawbone. The post is usually about 3.5 to 6 millimeters in diameter – the size depending on what tooth the implant replaces.
• After your jawbone heals, an abutment is placed into the implant to attach the dental crown to.
• The abutment is the hardware allowing your dental implant surgeon to complete the procedure by attaching the tooth prosthetic (aka, a dental crown) to the implant.

Minimally Invasive Dental Implants: The mini implant doesn’t require a traditional implant’s bone mass, eliminating the need for bone graft’s in most instances.

• At about half the size of a traditional dental implant, a mini implant gets inserted through the gums. No incisions are needed. No recovery time is necessary.
• The abutment and implant are one piece. The crown cements directly onto the attached abutment. And your tooth prosthetic fits directly on the implant.
• Like a traditional implant, a mini implant can serve to stabilize dentures by affixing them to the mini implant rather than using an adhesive.
• Mini’s are truly a lower cost alternative without sacrificing time or effectiveness thanks to their versatility and functionality. A mini dental implant involves less hardware and less time, which all saves patients on what they typically might pay for traditional implants.
• In addition, if a patient is currently wearing dentures, they might be able to retrofit those dentures for the mini implants to further save on costs.

Mini dental implants might just be the ideal solution for both your budget and your jawbone situation. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation implant consultation appointment.