Mini Dental Implants

Are you considering Dentures?

Are you facing the prospect of having dentures? Do you have trouble eating? Are you embarrassed about how your teeth look? Are dentures your only option? If you are thinking about getting dentures, make sure you know the facts, to make an informed decision. More people wear dentures than you would think. With the right denture and look, you cannot tell them apart from people with real teeth. The majority of people over the age of 65 wear full dentures. The main causes of tooth loss that necessitate dentures are gum disease and tooth decay.

The decision to move to dentures is usually driven by pain, money, and/or fear. It is a very difficult decision to make and is made more difficult when you hear horror stories from denture wearers. In the best case scenario, it is always best to try to save your original teeth if financially and medically possible. The decision to get dentures should not be made because it will be less expensive, or "easier" to maintain. Sometimes, patients believe that getting dentures will solve all their dental problems, and save lots of money in the long run. This is surely not the case. No matter how good the denture is, and how stable it can be, dentures will never be the same as having your original teeth. However, at least now there is a method available to make dentures more comfortable than ever.

To make things as comfortable for you as possible, we offer oral conscious sedation when teeth are removed. In this way we can guarantee a pleasant experience.

Many people delay getting dentures because they worry about what they will look like if they get dentures. A denture done right will satisfy the most discerning eye and satisfy everyone.

Do you currently have dentures?

Are your dentures loose? Do they constantly shift and move? Are you tired of using adhesives to try to hold them into place? Are you unable to eat what you want, when you want? Do you have constant sore spots, and have trouble talking? Are you losing weight and having digestive problems? Mini-implants are a reliable and affordable solution to restore your quality of life by securing your dentures so that you are able to enjoy the foods you love and feel comfortable and confident about your smile. Be able to eat what you want, and when you want it again with confidence.

What do Mini-implants look like, and how do they work?

Mini implants hold dentures in place by attaching the lower denture to the heads of titanium implant screws. In many cases, these mini screw implants can be placed and the denture snapped into place during the same appointment. Please see the below diagram.

What can I expect when obtaining mini-implants?

Following are a few things to expect when inquiring or deciding to move forward with mini-implants:

Free Consultation with Dr. Strober
X-rays and treatment planning
Impressions for dentures
Try-in appointments
Final delivery

Why do mini implants?

There is no surgery involved in placing mini-implants! The implant is placed directly into the jawbone, and the procedure takes less than an hour and placing the implant involves minimum trauma.

Mini implants are able to hold the lower denture securely, even with their smaller size. Mini-implants require less bone due to their small diameter than conventional implants for attachment, so more people can have them. In some cases, the denture can be attached the same day the implants are placed.

Price is not determined by how many implants you receive. Dr. Strober will place as many or as few needed to secure the denture.

In some instances, for current denture wearers, the old denture can be retrofitted for the mini-implants.

The mini-implant is much more affordable than conventional implants and you will not have to wait six months to use them.

Frequently asked Questions

What are mini-implants?

A mini-implant is a miniature titanium implant with a round head that is placed into your jaw, which acts like the root of your tooth and has a retaining fixture that is incorporated into the base of your denture, The head of the implant is shaped like a ball and the retaining fixture acts like a socket that contains a rubber O-ring. An o-ring is placed into your denture to snap your denture securely in place. The O-ring snaps over the ball when the denture is seated and holds the denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated, the denture gently rests on the gum tissue. The implant fixtures allow for micro-mobility while withstanding natural lifting forces.

Can you give me a quick estimate over the phone?

Many people call our office and want to get a quick estimate over the phone for mini-implants. That is impossible to do for many reasons. First, each patient's needs are so very different. Some need extractions, some don't. Some extractions are surgical, others are simple. Bone needs to be added at the extraction site, so we need to know exactly how many extractions there will be. Some patients only need partials, others need full dentures. Some patients want to have their teeth pulled and have dentures, when their teeth can be saved, avoiding dentures. Without seeing everyone's individual mouth, to see the existing condition, and without an x-ray showing the amount of bone available, providing a "guesstimate" is not possible.

How are mini-implants placed?

Mini-implant placement is accomplished quickly and easily in a procedure performed in our office with just Novocain or if you prefer, we can use oral conscious sedation to help make you more comfortable. A small hole is placed in your gum and the mini-implants are gently screwed into the bone. The heads of the implants protrude from the gum tissue and provide a strong, solid foundation that your denture will actually SNAP tightly on to and secure itself.

What are the benefits of the mini-implants?

A simple, easy, quick procedure gives incredible security to your lower denture at a cost that is affordable to everyone. There are approximately 50,000,000 people in the United States who are "edentulous" (literally meaning lacking teeth) who struggle daily with prosthetic devices. A majority suffer a great deal of discomfort as a result of lose or ill-fitting dentures. Many denture wearers simply withdraw from any type of social engagement as a result of being compelled to wear them. Moreover, it's not uncommon for family members to complain about a denture wearer's disagreeable breath as a result of food being trapped and decaying under their denture prosthesis. Successful placement of the Mini Dental Implant addresses and solves all of these social and practical problems.

Am I a candidate for mini-implants?

The ideal candidate is in good general and oral health. The best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease since the mini-implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Unless you have had radiation to your jaw, you are probably a good candidate. Individuals with uncontrolled diabetes are poor candidates. We have successfully placed implants in people that have lost nearly all of their lower jaw bone. Mini-implants are ideal for a patient whose bone density is lacking.

How successful are the mini-implants?

After a 5 year study, the success rate of mini-implants in the lower jaw is approximately 97% and in the upper jaw it is 91%. It must be recognized that all implant systems as well as natural teeth are subject to potential failure due to natural causes, including osteoporosis, poor oral hygiene, wear and tear attrition, poor health, heavy, stressful biting habits, and lack of follow-up dental maintenance care. Mini implants similarly do not carry any actual or implied guarantee as to longevity. However, the loss of a Mini Dental Implant is a far less critical event to the patient since it may be replaced at relatively minimal cost compared to conventional implants, and with minimal associated bone or gum deterioration.

Will I experience pain in placing the mini-implants?

Placing Mini-implants is a simple one-step procedure. We do not have to cut open the gum or perform any surgery, therefore no sutures are necessary. Oral conscious sedation is available for the nervous patient to help calm nerves, but you will most likely leave our office with no pain at all.

It may not hurt placing the implants, but what kind of pain will I experience afterwards?

This is a very broad question with no easy answer for everyone! Some patients are able to go home and resume all normal activities without taking any medication. Some patients experience slight discomfort which is taken care of with ibuprofen. Someone who is very pain intolerant may require something stronger. The majority of my patients only require ibuprofen, if anything. Every patient heals differently, allowing for different experiences. There may be a chance of slight swelling or bruising, but not for all patients.

Are the mini-implants FDA approved for long term use?

In 2005 a formal application to the FDA in Washington, DC seeking permission to market the mini dental implant devices to the general public was submitted. After providing satisfactory technical and clinical evidence to that agency that the product was safe for public use and in fact had beneficial attributes, the FDA granted its formal consent to market the Mini Dental Implant device not only as a transitional or temporary dental product, but significantly, as a long-term item.

What problems can occur with mini implants?

As mini-implants are so small in diameter, it possible that they can break while being placed, or afterwards. If one breaks, we simply put another next to the one that broke. Some of the implants get loose and have to be removed and replaced, but that percentage is very low.

Can mini implants be placed on the upper jaw?

For most people, the upper denture is usually more secure than the lower denture. The mini-implants are far more successful in the dense lower jaw than in the hollow bone of the upper jaw, especially with the proximity of the sinus cavity. Normally, more extensive procedures may be required to place upper implants (bone grafting, etc...). The bone on the upper is just not as dense as the bone in the lower jaw.

What kind of maintenance is there with mini-dental implants?

Many patients think that once they have implants and dentures, there dental follow up is complete. This could not be further from the truth! You have just made an investment in your mouth, and maintenance is required. Implants are acting as your teeth, and need to be cleaned by your dentist/hygienist on a periodic basis. Calculus can accumulate around the implants if not maintained properly, just as with real teeth, and failure to maintain them can lead to implant failure. Patients are normally scheduled for cleanings every three to four months to ensure proper cleaning of the implants, dentures and gum tissue. A special brush is provided to every patient to help clean around the implants for home care. This brush must be changed periodically.

During the hygiene visits, your implants will be monitored, as well as the health of your gums and the fit of the denture. The o-rings will get loose and will need to be replaced because they do wear out. The more often that you remove and replace your dentures the more frequently you will need to come in to the office and have the o-rings replaced. You have made an investment with your implants and dentures. Routine office visits will help you to get the best return on your investment. Think of it this way. If you buy a new car, just because it is new does not mean that you never need to have an oil change again. You still need to do maintenance on the vehicle. Implants and dentures are the same. They still need after attention after the purchase.

Visit the IMTEC site for more information on Mini Dental Implants!

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