Most people know about dental implants. They are the best solution for a missing tooth or teeth, as, once in place, an implant behaves just like a natural tooth.

Most people don’t know that there are also mini dental implants. At EMA Dental, we are asked about the difference between the two and when use of mini implants makes sense.

Implant size

Both full and mini implants are made from titanium. Titanium is unique because it is a metal that is completely compatible with the human body. The implant is actually the screw that is inserted down into the hole formerly occupied by the tooth root. Once inserted, the jawbone then grows around the implant, fully integrating it into the jaw. Next a post is attached to the implant, and a crown onto that.

The difference between full and mini implants is the size and the top.

Full dental implants are 4-5mm in diameter. They are generally made of two pieces. There is the external screw that is inserted into the bone. Then there is the internal thread that allows various components to be torqued down and attached to the implant.

Mini dental implants are a solid one-piece screw, measuring less than 3mm in diameter. They feature a ball-shaped end that sticks out of the jawbone. Mini implants are often used as the support for dentures, which have a rubber O ring that is intended to fit around the protruding ball from the implant.

Comparing the two

Because mini implants are only about half as big as standard implants, they only provide half the support. Two implants would be necessary to create the same support of a single standard implant. Because they are smaller, mini implants also allow for less chewing force, and they don’t last as long due to stress on the jawbone.

Still, mini implants are great for securing dentures because of their small size and versatility with placement. The healing/integration time is shorter than full implants. And they cost about half as much.

If you’re considering replacing a tooth with an implant, let’s talk. Call either our Longmeadow or Northampton offices for an appointment.

At EMA Dental, we believe dental implants are far and away the best solution to replace missing or extensively damaged teeth. But in cases where the patient has lost the majority of his or her teeth, dentures are still a more affordable, easier path to take.

However, if we combine the two, we can get the rock solid anchoring of implants with the large number tooth replacement of dentures. We call them implant-retained dentures.

Dentures

When all the teeth in the patient’s mouth need replacing, dentures can return full functionality. They allow normal speaking and eating and, of course, present a perfect smile to the public.

Dentures are made from acrylic and porcelain and include upper and lower sets. And, while fitting dentures with the use of modern panoramic cameras is much more precise than it used to be, due to the nature of the gums dentures still can slip and move. What they need are anchor points.

Adding implants for stability

That’s where implants come in. Implants, by their very nature, provide the stability needed to keep dentures in place. Implants are basically titanium screws that are placed into the hole formerly occupied by the tooth root. The body then builds new bone and totally integrates the new implant. Once this process is complete, a post is attached to the implant and, in normal circumstances, an artificial tooth atop that post.

But with implant-retained dentures at EMA Dental, we simply attach the full dentures to the implants, rather than placing a crown on top of them. The number of implants we will use depends on how much jawbone mass has been lost while your teeth have been missing. When teeth are missing for longer periods of time, the jawbone beneath them begins to deteriorate because it doesn’t get the stimulation from the tooth above. Usually, we recommend four implants on top and bottom for ultimate stability.

If you’re missing most of your teeth, or have badly damaged teeth, call our Longmeadow or Northhampton offices and let’s talk about implant-retained dentures.