Mini Dental Implants in Temecula: Are You Sure?
What are mini dental implants?
Let’s discuss mini dental implants — the option that is getting more and more popular due to (perceived) lower cost of treatment. Mini dental implants are narrow and short metal posts placed into the jawbone. Although many patients consider going with mini dental implants in their area because they are presented as a more affordable solution, they do not provide desired clinical results. They fail (fall out or break/fracture) a lot more frequently compared to the traditional dental implants
Therefore, here at Temecula Facial Oral Surgery, we recommend traditional dental implants to our patients in Temecula. Dmitry Y. Tsvetov, DDS, MD, is a highly experienced, educated, and board-certified dental implant specialist, offering personalized dental plans to residents in the Temecula area.
What do mini dental implants look like?
Simply stated, mini implants are narrower than traditional implants (2-3 mm in width vs 3 mm or more for traditional implants). As advertised, they can be placed into a narrow bone, avoiding the need for bone grafting procedures.
However, it’s important to mention that mini dental implants are a mechanical solution simply attached to the bone. As such, they don’t merge with the bone, which compromises its health and provides less stability and long-term dependability when compared to traditional dental implants. This is why our clients in Temecula turn to us for long-term tooth replacement provided by traditional methods.
How long do mini dental implants last?
Although it is advertised that mini implants are appropriate for long-term use, they are not a durable solution. Unlike traditional dental implants, mini implants don’t fuse with the bone and are placed in a generally less stable bone. They are also more likely to break due to their extremely narrow profile. Therefore, they aren’t as stable and as effective as traditional implants.
What about traditional dental implants?
Traditional dental implants are made of titanium that fuses to the jawbone, stimulating the tissue during chewing. They are held firmly in place, eliminating the possibility of moving or shifting. Therefore, they can last for years as they look, feel, and function as natural teeth.
How long they can last greatly depends on the expertise of the dental implants specialist near you who places them. Here at Temecula Facial Oral Surgery, Doctor Tsvetov has the experience to handle simple and complex dental situations and will be able to help you with your specific needs.
Are mini implants as good as regular implants?
If you’re considering having mini dental implants in Temecula, you should know that they function differently than traditional implants. Unlike the traditional solution, mini implants are mechanically screwed into the jawbone. This prevents osteointegration, the process of fusing with the bone, which is typical of traditional implants.
Consequently, this makes them quite flimsy and can be easily screwed out of the bone. Additionally, since mini implants are small, narrow, and short, it’s not uncommon for them to break below the gum. The removal of the broken pieces is highly difficult because it requires a specialist to core out the screw. This poses a great risk since it can damage the entire bone and the surrounding teeth.
Therefore, if you need a stable, lasting solution for missing or deteriorating teeth, consider going with traditional dentist implant solutions in Temecula, CA. During your initial consultation, Doctor Tsvetov will advise you on the best treatment. He can complete the placement of a single implant in 30 minutes with minimal to no pain. We typically apply local anesthesia, but we also enable our patients to request general anesthesia or intravenous sedation.
Disadvantages of mini dental implants
Due to their mechanical nature and small proportions, mini dental implants bring several disadvantages:
- Due to the fact that they are narrower and are placed into a narrower, less stable bone, more mini implants (4-6 vs traditional 2 implants) are often needed to be placed to support the same denture.
- These mini implants also need to be placed more posteriorly (to the back of the jaw), increasing the risk for damage to the nerve that runs inside the lower jaw.
- What is also often not mentioned is that mini dental implants rely on purely mechanical forces to hold on to the bone (much like a traditional metal screw that is screwed into the wall to hang a picture). Traditional dental implants, on the other hand, osseointegrate, or fuse to the bone, providing a stable, long term foundation for the crown or denture support.
- Mini dental implants can break below the jawbone, which is not only a serious complication, but also a great health risk to the surrounding tissue and the bone.
- Although many patients choose mini dental implants due to their lower cost, they aren’t such a long-term solution, which means that you will need to have them replaced sooner than traditional dental implants, which also brings more unnecessary expenses.
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Mini Dental Implants Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between regular dental implants and mini implants?
So, let’s summarize:
- Mini implants: Need to place more of them into a less stable bone, jeopardizing the nerve, providing less stable long-term foundation for the denture due to the fact that the mini implants are just “hanging on” to the bone.
- Traditional implants: often need only two, placed into a stable bone, fuse to the bone to provide a stable, long-term solution, often at a LOWER COST than mini implants.
What would you like to have? If you are thinking traditional dental implants, you’ve made the right choice! Call us today and come in for a free dental implant consultation in Temecula – we will be delighted to discuss this with you in more detail.
When to get dental implants?
If you’re considering getting dental implants in Temecula, you can do so in the following situations:
- Missing/decayed teeth. Traditional implants are an effective, long-term solution if you have one or more missing or decayed teeth. A dental implant specialist with a lot of experience, can make the process straightforward and achieve predictable, positive clinical results.
- Tooth extraction. After having a tooth extracted, you should have it replaced by a dental implant even if it’s not in a visible spot. Without a tooth, your jawbone won’t have enough stimulation while chewing. This can lead to its deterioration and resorption, which can change your facial shape. The placement of dental implants can help prevent this.
- Gum disease/bone loss. A number of patients end up loosing one or more teeth due to gum disease. This is a condition also known as periodontal disease, where the jawbone begins to melt away around the teeth. The process can be quite aggressive, in many cases leading to teeth being loose, and eventually becoming so mobile that they need to be removed.
- Trauma. Teeth can be lost/fractured as a result of an accident (car accident or bicycle accident). Dental implants help replace the teeth lost under these circumstances
For any additional questions, feel free to schedule a consultation with our specialist. Doctor Tsvetov, will provide you with expert advice and opinion when you should get traditional dental implants and make the arrangements for your procedure at the right time.
Can anybody get dental implants?
In general, most individuals can get dental implants if they meet several basic criteria. To qualify for the dental implant procedure, you need to:
- Be healthy enough to undergo oral surgery or dental extraction.
- Have a healthy jawbone and gums to support the placement of implants.
- Be ready to come for regular dental visits and stick to good oral hygiene habits.
However, if you suffer from any chronic health condition, are an active smoker, or have undergone radiation therapy for the neck or head, our dentist implant specialist will need to examine you and consider your particular case. Only then will Doctor Tsvetov be able to evaluate your condition and determine whether you should undergo the placement of dental implants.
Who should perform your dental implant surgery?
Before scheduling a dental appointment in Temecula to get dental implants, you should first inform yourself about who should perform this procedure. It’s highly advisable that you schedule an appointment with a trusted oral surgeon for a number of reasons:
- Education, experience, and expertise. Oral surgeons and specialists have extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of dental implants and proper procedure techniques. They’ve had an array of opportunities to encounter both simple and complex cases, so they can handle this procedure with precision and reliability.
- Procedure frequency. Unlike regular dentists, oral surgeons deal with dental implant placement more frequently. For them, this is a common type of procedure, while some dentists may encounter dental implants for the first time.
- Complication preparedness. Owing to the mentioned factors, oral specialists are more prepared and competent to deal with possible complications and complex cases.
Dmitry Y. Tsvetov, DDS is Temecula’s reputable dental implant specialist with a long-standing practice and comprehensive dental implant experience. As the AAOMS member, he is an acknowledged expert in the field who complies with rigorous criteria and requirements for continuing education. Therefore, rest assured that here at Temecula Facial Oral Surgery, we meet the stringent national standards in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
How to choose the best dental implant specialist in Temecula, CA?
When looking into dentist implant options in Temecula, you need to consider factors that include a surgeon’s experience and education, available equipment, payment options, and overall availability. You can find this and more at Temecula Facial Surgery.
With us, you have an opportunity to schedule an appointment with one of the leading specialists in the field. We also employ advanced equipment that includes Itero digital impressions, CT scans, L-PRF, and other tools. Additionally, we enable you to apply for our 0% payment plan over a certain period of time. We are here to ensure you have a comfortable dental experience with no pain. Reach out to us & we’ll schedule your free consultation!