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.

Call

Or Schedule Your Free

Mini Dental Implants Frequently Asked Questions