Mini Dental Implants - Mini Tooth Implant Tips

Nothing seems to stir up so much debate and misinformation for the very patients we as dentist should help as Mini Dental Implants.  I think we should choose the high road and explain each option fully and correctly. 

FDA Approved?

Mini dental implants are approved by the FDA in the US for long term use for fixed(crowns and bridges) and removable (partial and full upper and lower dentures).  There is no gain in telling patients that they are not....simply not true.  You can Google FDA approval for mini dental implants and you will find the 510(k) right there on the FDA.gov web pages.

40 Million Americans are without teeth.

Only about 3-5% of them have dental implants. Why such a few number of people with dental implants?  Typical answer is COST.  Traditional implant therapy has left out most Americans.  Mini dental implants can offer a solution at a different price point.  The procedure to place a mini dental implant is very simple and lots of the surgery and recovery time has been removed.  With less surgery comes less cost to the patient.

What are Mini Dental Implants made out of?

Mini dental implants are made of the same Titanium alloy as the larger traditional implants.  They have the same surface coatings to allow for them to fuse to your jaw bones; and they do. 

Are Mini Implants less expensive?

With the advent of the one piece mini dental implant there are no additional parts and pieces to buy.  A typical traditional dental implant consists of the screw that will act as the root of the missing tooth.  The dentist then has to purchase an additional part called the abutment.  The abutment is what comes up out of the gum and hold the crown or denture in place.  Since the mini dental implant is one piece there is no additional fee since the abutment is built right into the implant.

Are Mini Implants Strong?

The mini dental implant is  a solid one piece Titanium alloy screw.  The traditional implant is hollow in the center to allow the attachment of the abutment with a screw.  Thus a mini implant can be just as strong as a larger two piece implant since there is no screw hole in the center.  You decide what is stronger a hollow tube or a solid tube?

Is there research and credible Dentists placing Mini Dental Implants?

There are studies showing that mini dental implants work just as well as traditional implants in both upper and lower jaws for both fixed crowns and snap in/out dentures.  These were published in Compendium, a well respected dental journal.  Dr. Gordon Christensen, a well respected dentist, teaches how to place and restore mini dental implants.  I don't think you will find any dentist in the US that does not have respect for the contributions he has made to organized dentistry worldwide. 

Can Mini Implants be used where there has been bone loss?

Absolutely.  That is one of the key benefits of the mini implant.  Due to its small size it can be inserted into areas where traditional implants would not be possible. 

To answer the original question....Can Mini Dental Implants be used to correct a single missing tooth or gap.  Of course they can.  If it is a small tooth then one mini will be sufficient to be used as an anchor for for fixed crown.  If it is a larger tooth such as a molar then 2 mini implants can be used.  Your original tooth had two roots so the most correct biological solution is two implants.  Where should they be placed and at what angle? Well bio-mechanically in the same anatomical spots where the original roots were. 

Mini Dental Implants may not be the perfect solution to every case.  However it does have its place in implant dentistry as another viable choice for patients to consider. 

Mini implants have limitations and certain indications, and restoring a tooth is where limitations are very real and there are few indications. Mini implants used to
restore a tooth is generally a poor long-term decision -- the only teeth I'd ever
consider restoring on a mini implant are the smallest teeth we have that
are in the least amount of function: lower incisors or upper lateral
incisors (the small teeth just next to your two front teeth). Mini's
just aren't design to take much biting force, so they won't last if you
ask them to do too much work. Investing in a bone graft and a larger
implant is a much more predictable long term solution. There are
also companies like Biohorizons, Nobel Biocare, and Straumann (3 of the biggest dental implant players in the world) that have come
out with 3.0mm implants that are very strong and can withstand long term
use. These are just slightly larger than minis, but they will be a
better long term choice by far. If you have adequate bone to place a 3.0 or larger size implant, you should go that route. Minis are cost effective in a short term sense, but they will likely fatigue and fail over time. When a failure occurs, it may make placing a second implant difficult or impossible. Plus, if you have to pay for two minis and two crowns, you've probably spent more than you would on one conventional sized implant, abutment, and crown.

Implant treatment has been around for over 30 years. The research for standard dental implants is exhaustive in the literature. The same cannot be said for mini dental implants. These implants DO have their place for tooth replacement in situations where the forces on the teeth (lower front teeth, for example) or lateral upper incisors (although depending on your bite, this may or may not be the case) are low. If you have huge forces acting on these implants depending on how strong your bite is, these implants WILL break. Implant fracture much more rare with standard implants. So the answer is, you have to see a highly trained implant specialist such as a periodontist or oral surgeon or prosthodontist to discuss option. Ask about your bite and whether your bite and jaw configuration is ideal for mini dental implants. As for the cost of mini implants, I cannot understand why these implants will be less cost because the professional fee and risk of surgery is the same regardless if the implant is mini or regular. The mini implants do cost less, but without sounding overly simplistic, you do get what you pay for. Cost should never be the overriding factor in making a decision about surgery on your body. Weigh out the treatment options and take your time. Rushing in could result in huge disappointments. I've pulled out hundreds of mini implants that were wrongly placed and patients are upset and devastated and discouraged from future treatment. This should not be the case as mini implants work in the proper case selection. 

First of all, mini dental implants have a long proven track record as a successful restoration. However, every patient and every situation requires a full analysis of the situation in order to determine which implant will best suit the restoration (denture, crown, etc).Placed correctly a mini implant can support a removable denture or even a fixed (cemented) bridge. Basically we choose an implant based upon the available bone. In our office , we will use the largest sized implant possible based upon the bone width and bone consistency. Therefore if we can use a full size implant , then that is our preference. If bone is limited we may utilize a mini implant. If patient finances are a concern we will utilize a mini implant as long as it does not compromise the result or provide the patient with an inferior restoration. Many times, especially in the front of the mouth a mini implant may be the choice for a single tooth gap/problem.

If you think of a dental implant as being a post that you placed into the ground, then you realize that the smaller it is the more prone it is to fracture and being rocked out of the ground. Teeth and implants are subjected to large forces over the course of a lifetime.Implant surgeons typically select the largest sized implant that would be appropriate for the site. For that reason, mini implants are not normally an ideal first choice for single tooth replacement

Mini implants were designed for temporary use.  In some cases during the healing phase of regular dental implants, some patients prefer to have temporary prosthesis which is where mini dental implants are great.  They frequently fail within 1 year. 

If you are looking for a permanent option, my recommendation is to go with a well-researched and guaranteed brand of dental implants such as Nobel Biocare, 3i, Straumann, or AstraTech.  I know you may find contradicting information online, but I encourage you to look into the research studies (i.e. Pubmed) rather than company-driven advertisements.

Mini Dental Implants should not be used to replace a single missing tooth. They are not strong enough in my opinion to support the chewing forces of a single tooth.

They are a good treatment option for patients who are currently wearing a denture and who need some added support and retention of their denture.

They can be placed in areas of thin bone because they are smaller (hence, mini) than regular implants. 

After they heal the denture can be modified to attach onto the head of the implant.

 

Mini Dental Implants are not the same as conventional dental implants. They are inappropriately marketed by practitioners as such and one should be very alert to this.  Mini implants have a place in dentistry as a temporary device to anchor a denture or permanently anchor a denture in individuals with a low bite force.  There is no long term data that shows a mini dental implant have the longevity of a conventional dental implant.  It is impossible for them to support the same occlussal (bite) forces as a conventioanl implant over time.  The majority of mini implants fail over time.  This also has to do with the fact that the doctors placing them are not generally surgical specialists, they are general practitioners with a weekend course.  There are very few certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons or even periodontists who advocate the use of the mini implanats except in very unique situations.  Another doctor mentioned that they are just as good as conventional implants below because the have been approved by the FDA 510(k).  One must understand the FDA approval process, that comment is misleading.  Dental Implants in the past have been classified as a Class 2 device, some now are Class 1 devices.  This means that no premarket research needs to be done on them, they just have to be similar to previously properly approved devices.  Nobel Biocare and Straumann have paved the way for all of these fly by night companies to ride their coattails including mini implants. Seek the consultation of a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon with 4-6 years of post doctoral dental implant training prior to taking the advice of a novice who took a couple weekend courses in Boca Raton or the such and having years of pain and suffering from improperply place mini implants.  Do your research and ask all the questions you feel necessary.  There are some indications for mini implants, but they are not the same as a conventional dental implant.  Some may last for several years, but that is not the norm.  I remove a lot of failed mini iplants in my practice because they were used for the wrong indication or improperly placed by inexperienced individuals

Mini dental implant are approved to be used for stabilization of dentures as well as fixed crowns. However, as said in previous posts would you trust a solid screw who's surface area and contact with bone is vast and proven, or a nail that has been manufactured and created with the sole aim of simplifying surgery and bypassing long standing implant surgical principles. The surface area of mini implants is much less than traditional implants and the single screw model is very limited in the ability to aesthetically provide a restoration. This is a buyer beware scenario, as long as the risks are disclosed you may choose as you will. In situations where bone is sparse I would opt for bone augmentation and a healthy screw rather than a flimsy nail in a troubled site.

Mini Implants are useful in a few ways.  If your bone where teeth are missing is very shallow and narrow, then a Mini can do.  Also, if cost is a factor, then Mini's are a little cheaper to place.  What is not known is the longevity of the Mini.  They may last forever, 5 years or less.  Typically they last a long time but not enough research is out on this yet. They are a good service for immediate placement and use right away.  They generally cost about half of a normal implant. 

Mini-implants are one of the most controversial topics in dentistry.  There’s a lot of misinformation and confusion on the topic.  First let’s define what we mean by mini-implants.  Conventional implants are 3.7mm in diameter or greater, hybrid implants are 3.0-3.7mm in diameter and Mini-implants are less than 3.0mm in diameter.

Originally mini-implants were used as temporary implants.  But it was later recognized that bone would grow around the implants making them very difficult to remove.  Mini implants have been approved by the FDA for long term use for crowns, bridges and removable over-dentures.


What I like most about using smaller implants is that many of my patients who lack bone and previously could not get implants, without extensive surgery, are candidates for mini-implants.  This has made implant dentistry accessible to millions more patients.  The procedure to place mini-implants is quicker, involves less drilling of bone, and less post operative discomfort than with traditional implants.


There’s at least 12 years of documented cases by doctors such as Dr. Shatkin.  The success rate is very similar to that of regular implants.  Dr. Gordon Christensen one of the most well respected speakers published many articles supporting mini-implants as a great option for patients to replace missing teeth.

In my practice I place implants of various sizes depending on what's best for the patient.  I advise you to consult with a trusted dentist who is trained in placing mini-implants regarding your situation. 

Good Luck!