Mini Implants — A Revolution in Implant Dentistry
Marshfield News Herald
Healthy Lifestyle Page – Article
Dental Clinic of Marshfield, S.C. — October 2011
The practice of Dentistry has been in existence for thousands of years. Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans all utilized some form of dentistry to alleviate pain and suffering from the common toothache, and even developed techniques to replace teeth lost due to trauma and disease. The Egyptians used gold wire and wrapped it around a replacement tooth, then wrapped the free ends of the wire around the teeth adjacent to where the original was lost. This “bridge” of teeth and wire has been found in archaeological sites.
Today, modern dentists utilize a number of techniques to replace missing teeth. One of the more recent techniques is using a dental implant to take the place of a missing tooth or teeth. After numbing the area with local anesthetic, a small flap or opening is made in the gum to expose the underlying bone. A small starter drill is used to open the bone, and the implant is threaded into the opening, the gum is sutured over the top, and the implant is allowed to lay dormant for 3-6 months. After the healing period, the gum is again numbed and the implant head is exposed so a post and crown can be threaded into the implant. Several implants can be placed at once depending on the needs of the patient and what type of reconstruction of the mouth is necessary.
An exciting evolution of implant dentistry is the Mini Implant. They are called “mini’s” because the diameter of the implant is smaller than what has commonly been used—1.8mm-3.0mm, versus 3.0mm-5.0mm. The smaller diameter means they can be threaded into areas where there is less bone, which has been one of the challenges in placing standard diameter implants. Without enough bone, bone grafting is necessary to hold the implant while it heals. Of course, this adds to the overall cost of the process. The alloys and surface coating of the Mini’s make them very strong, and able to heal into the bone quickly.
In fact, today many dentists are using Mini’s in ways that were unheard of just a few years ago. For example, for folks who wear full dentures, Mini’s are being used to help stabilize those dentures, instead of having to use messy denture adhesives. The cost is also lower—typically about half of that of a standard implant procedure. Even more exciting is the fact that there is usually no gum flap or sutures, and the Mini’s can be used the same day as they are placed. So, if you are thinking about how you can replace a missing tooth, or want to enjoy eating better with your dentures, ask your dentist about Mini Implants, and see if they’re right for you.
Rick Mueller, D.D.S., is a General Dentist practicing at the Dental Clinic of Marshfield. For more information about mini implants, or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Dental Clinic of Marshfield.
