A dental implant is a titanium screw used to replace missing teeth. Or more accurately, these screws replace the roots of missing teeth. Natural tooth roots lie below your gum line, embedded in your jaw. Whenever you chew or bite, these roots stimulate your jaw to keep it healthy and full. But after tooth loss, you lose vital stimulation, causing your bone to shrink over time. Only by replacing missing tooth roots can you stop bone loss in its tracks! Dental implants are biocompatible, meaning they’ll gradually secure in your jaw to provide stimulation and a strong foundation for tooth replacements. Using these implants for support, we restore your smile with a crown, bridge, or denture restoration. But what is the difference between conventional dental implants and miniature dental implants? How do you know which solution is right for you?
Here at St. Apollonia Dental, we offer free consultations to determine which implant is best for your smile and to create a custom treatment plan.
Understanding Conventional Dental Implants
Conventional dental implants are titanium screws, typically around 5 millimeters in diameter. These screws embed in your jawbone to replace missing tooth roots and offer a strong foundation for your restorations.
Because of their size, these implants require a relatively complex procedure and sufficient bone for support. For patients lacking in bone structure, you may need to rebuild lost bone with a bone graft or sinus lift procedure.
Additionally, conventional implants have multiple components, requiring separate placement appointments between healing periods. The entire process takes anywhere from 4 to 6 months, depending on how complex your case is. Then, once your implants are integrated into your bone, we can secure a natural-looking crown, bridge, or denture on top to restore your smile.
Breaking Down Miniature Dental Implants
Miniature dental implants, as the name implies, are much smaller in diameter. At less than 3 millimeters, these narrow-diameter implants fit in minimal bone, often without the need for bone augmentation.
Instead, we may be able to skip preparatory procedures and get right to placing miniature implants. Thanks to their smaller size, the placement process for these titanium posts differs significantly from the conventional process.
To place mini implants, we use a minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require any incisions or stitches. Because of the unique one-piece design of a miniature implant, we place these posts in a single appointment! With no healing time between appointments, patients like you can enjoy a faster and more comfortable treatment process.
In most cases, the miniature dental implant process takes just a few weeks, saving you both time and money.
Miniature Implants vs. Conventional Implants: Which Is Right for You?
With the amazing benefits of miniature dental implants on display, you may wonder why anyone would choose conventional implants. However, just like their conventional counterparts, mini implants aren’t right for everyone.
In general, mini dental implants can be placed in minimal bone structure, but not always in softer bone. To securely anchor in your jaw, mini implants require hard, dense bone that keeps them in place while you heal.
Conventional implants, in contrast, are unable to secure in minimal bone but can often be placed in softer bone. Because of their larger diameter, they’re able to maximize stability and more evenly distribute the pressure of your bite in weaker bone.
During your free consultation with us at St. Apollonia Dental, we will take a look at the quality and quantity of your jawbone. Using a 3D digital X-ray, we take an image of your jaw structure to assess. From there, we are able to determine which implant best suits your needs and create a customized treatment plan for your smile.
Learn About Your Implant Options in Sterling Heights, MI
Dental implants replace missing tooth roots and missing teeth, both restoring your smile and keeping your jawbone healthy. But between miniature dental implants and conventional dental implants, it can be difficult to know which first steps to take. But by scheduling a free consultation with St. Apollonia Dental in Sterling Heights, MI, you can have a medical professional guide you towards the right path. We will determine which implant is right for your situation and create a treatment plan to restore your smile.
Book your free consultation with us today!
