Sunday, October 30, 2011

What Are Mini Dental Implants?

Those men and women searching for a safe and effective way to replace broken, damaged and missing teeth often turn to dental implants, but knowing the different types of dental implants available will help patients to choose which dental implant is right for them.

Dental implants are not all the same. Depending on the size of the implant, dental implants are classified into two main groups: standard dental implants and mini dental implants. Regardless of size, all dental implants use titanium alloy to fuse to the jaw bone, thus creating a base for replacement teeth.


So what are Mini Dental Implants?  Mini Dental Implants, or MDI’s, are the newest dental implant technology to become available to patients who are looking to improve their smile. Until now, patients looking to replace teeth have turned to traditional dental implants, which can be quite invasive, and dentures, which can cause both irritation and frustration due to their non-permanent nature.  Mini Dental Implants provide a non-invasive alternative to traditional implants, and allow more patients to replace missing teeth.


The Mini Dental Implant Procedure


The Mini Dental Implant treatment is similar to the traditional dental implant procedure, however due to their size, more patients are able to secure dental prosthetics with this technologically advanced treatment.

The treatment begins by securing the MDI. This is done using a minimally-invasive surgical technique which places the implant into the jaw bone, allowing the bone to fuse with the implant, keeping it in place. The tip of the implant protrudes from the gum line and has a ball-like shape. This ball-like shape is designed to connect securely with a retaining fixture which is attached to the bottom of the dental prosthetic. This retaining fixture is socket-like in nature and allows the implant to ‘snap’ into place, securing the dental prosthetic.


A Mini Dental Implant is smaller and thinner than a regular dental implant. In addition, MDI treatments are less invasive, take less time, and heal faster. Mini Dental Implants allow patients the ability to retain dental implants that look and act like natural teeth.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Mini Dental Implant


Mini Dental Implant technology has revolutionized dental prosthetics. In today’s world, it seems that everything is getting smaller, and working better, so why shouldn’t the same engineering principles apply to dental implant technology?  The advent of titanium alloy led to the creation of a stronger yet smaller dental implant: the Mini Dental Implant.

Over 30 million Americans are currently suffering with imperfect smiles due to missing teeth. For years, men and women turned to dentures as a way to improve their smiles, but dentures often cause problems when eating and speaking, making it difficult for patients to rely on this dental technology.

Mini Dental Implants or MDIs have changed the way that both patients and dental professionals view dental implant technology. Like dentures, Mini Dental Implants are designed to look and act like real teeth. But unlike dentures, MDIs are permanent, meaning they will not shift or cause irritation when patients eat or speak.

Mini Dental Implants are about half the size of regular dental implants, yet their advanced technology makes them just as strong. Because they are smaller in size, the implantation procedure is faster, is less invasive, and not as costly.

The Mini Dental Implant Procedure

Mini Dental Implants consist of two pieces. The implant is attached to the jaw bone using a minimally invasive surgical procedure which can be performed right in your dentist’s office. The head of the implant is shaped like a ball and protrudes from the gum. The implant acts like the root of your tooth and holds the dental prosthetic firmly in place.

The dental prosthetic is attached to the implant using a retaining fixture which is incorporated into the base of the denture. Once attached to the implant, the denture rests comfortably on the gum line where it looks and acts like a real tooth.

More patients are turning to Mini Dental Implants to improve their smile because they are fast, virtually painless and create a naturally beautiful smile.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Mini Dental Implants and Fixed Crowns For Treating Congenitally Missing Maxillary Incisors

Dentists have struggled over the years to treat this condition employing a number of techniques. Removable partial dentures, conventional fixed partial dentures, Maryland Bridges and conventional dental implants are employed with varying degrees of success and patient satisfaction. This article will focus on the benefits of using Mini Dental Implants with fixed crowns to treat such conditions.

Patients with congenitally missing maxillary incisors are often treated in their childhood. Orthodontics is typically employed and completed resulting in an unavoidable facial concave defect in the maxilla and converging adjacent root tips. Accordingly, this space is lacking both in buccal-lingual and a mesio-distal dimensions. The facial concavity may be treated successfully by block only grafting with fixation but the adjacent roots remain problematic. Also, the block grafting requires multiple surgeries, donor site morbidity and considering the patient age and growth potential may be premature. This procedure is best treated by a practitioner with significant skill usually requiring referral.

This complicated treatment also increases the treatment cost. When compounded by subsequent implant placement, second stage surgeries and restorative visits, the teenage patient and parent will most certainly object and begin looking for an alternative. Although we are justified to charge for our time and efforts, implant alternatives do exist that are predictable and cost effective.

Mini Implants have been demonstrated to function well in fixed applications. The MDI has allowed us to offer a more affordable solution to patients. The price of the implant parts are reasonable, often under $100. Conventional crown fabrication or CAD/CAM may be utilized without expensive abutments or transfer pieces.

Placement of the MDI is completed following the same general protocol as used for denture stabilization. A Max thread MDI is utilized to achieve initial stability and a longer implant is recommended. Using the same concepts for placement of large diameter implants, appropriate radiographs and surgical/restorative guides are prepared. Placement is accomplished with the use of surgical guides and guide tool devices. Temporaries are fabricated with resin. Impressions may be made at the time of placement or may be reserved for a post operative appointment following osseointegration. Temporary crowns are cemented. Final crowns placed.

Mini Dental Implants


Mini Dental Implants are quickly proving to be one of the most significant advancements in dental implant technology, allowing men and women suffering with imperfect teeth the ability to once again feel confident about their smile.

Whether you are looking to replace broken, damaged or missing teeth, or are frustrated with your removable dentures, Mini Dental Implants may be the solution you’re searching for.

The Challenge

Undoubtedly, patients experience difficulty when adjusting to dentures for the first time…even experienced denture wearers can become frustrated. Attempting to eat certain foods, or even to speak without fear that your dentures will become displaced, are frustrations that many patients deal with on a daily basis.

Those who are not denture wearers yet suffer with an imperfect smile, often find that broken, damaged and missing teeth hinder both their health and their lifestyle.

Achieving a better smile through denture stabilization will help those with imperfect teeth to live life more comfortably.

The Dental Implant Solution

Many affiliated practices providing dentures and other tooth replacement strategies to patients have recently introduced a denture stabilization treatment, often referred to as Mini Dental Implants (MDI).

Essentially, this new treatment is a dental implant system that acts as a permanent fixture for your tooth implant, allowing it to stay in place while eating and speaking. In most cases, the dental implants can be permanently attached in a single dental visit, allowing patients the ability to immediately eat and speak with confidence.

The Mini Dental Implant Procedure

The Mini Dental Implant system consists of a miniature titanium implant that acts as the root of your tooth. The fixture is incorporated into the jaw bone, and attaches to the base of the tooth implant. This allows for permanent placement of the tooth implant.

Mini Dental Implant Benefits

• The ability to eat and speak with confidence
• Nutritional health benefits of once again being able to eat foods you haven’t eaten for years
• Ease and convenience of no longer needing pastes or adhesives
• Related oral health benefits

Whether replacing a single tooth or a group of teeth, Mini Dental Implants are a safe, effective treatment that poses many health and lifestyle benefits.