Types of Mini Dental Implants

Dental implantation is a treatment that is considered by many men and women who currently suffer with broken, decaying, damaged or missing teeth. Fortunately, implant technology has progressed in recent years to the point where patients have several options when it comes to tooth replacement. Traditional implants and mini dental implants are the two main types of treatments undergone today, however mini dental implants or MDI’s are quickly growing in popularity because their versatility allows for more candidates to undergo treatment.

Mini dental implants are growing in popularity because they offer more options to patients than any other implant treatment.  Candidacy for dental implantation comes down to one simple factor—the amount of bone present in the jaw. Similar to the foundation of a house, implants need a solid foundation for stabilization, there needs to be enough surrounding bone in the jaw for lasting results. The larger size of traditional implants excluded many patients who did not have enough bone for proper stabilization, but because MDI’s are smaller, more patients can now undergo treatment.

The smaller size of MDI’s are one reason why they are more versatile, but the fact that they are also available in several different shapes, further allows for implantation in patients who might not otherwise be able to undergo treatment. A minimum of 2 mm of bone on each side of the implant—surrounding and below—is needed for successful treatment. The jawbone mass in each patient varies, so various mini dental implants have been created to accommodate the maximum number of patients.

Today mini dental implants are available in shapes that range from short and thin and long and fat, to short and fat and long and thin. Further, MDI’s also have varying threads (similar to a screw, these threads are used to firmly place the implant in the jawbone, and promote osseointegration or bonding with the bone) and different connections, which are placed on the dental prosthetic and connect the implant to a crown, bridge or denture arch.

With so many implant options available to patients, MDI’s still provide the same support and stabilization as traditional implants, providing more patients with a long-lasting naturally, beautiful smile.