Alternatives to Dental Implants | The Mini Implant

Occassionally, a 3-D scan reveals diagnostic data that is prohibitive to placing an implant. In some treatment plans, narrower implants may be used for small teeth and incisors. Also, a narrower implant may best serve patients who require stabilization of lower jaw dentures, pre-molar teeth, or a missing tooth that was located in a narrow area. A small number of narrower implants are FDA-approved for the purpose of prosthesis stabilization, including the mini-dental implant. Only certain dentists may perform this procedure.

There are some core differences between traditional implants and mini implants:

• Mini implants are approximately half the width of their traditional counterparts.
• The implant is not fully submerged during a narrow implant procedure.
• Should implant failure occur, the small size (that of a toothpick) means grafting is not necessary.
• Mini implants are less costly.
• Mini implants are solid though they do not contain a screw.

Dental Implants Houston