If you would prefer to not wait months for full-sized dental implants, we recommend you ask our Grand Rapids dentists if you’re a candidate for mini dental implants. Unlike their larger counterparts, mini implants don’t require as much healthy jawbone tissue to be placed.

Many of our patients also appreciate that mini dental implants can be placed in one appointment and require much less recovery. We always want to make sure our patients have access to the information they need to care for their smiles.

Continue reading to learn more about the mini dental implant procedure and how they compare to other tooth replacement options.

How Mini Dental Implants Work

The convenient part about a mini dental implant is that your replacement tooth is able to snap into place thanks to the “ball” located at the end of the piece. This ball allows the replacement tooth to connect via its rubber O-ring.

With the crown placed on top, you have the look of a natural tooth, but with a socket underneath to create a secure attachment with the implant.

Benefits of Mini Dental Implants

A mini dental implant can be placed during one appointment and is minimally invasive. Many of our patients appreciate that they don’t have to deal with stitches or wait months to start showing off their new smiles.

If you don’t have sufficient jawbone tissue to support full-sized implants, our dentists may recommend mini implants. While full-sized dental implants are between 3.4 and 5.8mm wide, mini implants are only 1.8 to 3.3mm in diameter. Because of their size, mini dental implants don’t need as much bone density to function.

Uses for Mini Dental Implants

Whether you want to replace one tooth or several, our dentists can use mini dental implants to restore your smile. If you have lost a few teeth, we may even recommend a dental bridge or dentures supported by implants.

Unlike conventional dentures, implant supported dentures don’t slip when you eat, talk, or smile. Instead, you can enjoy a smile that looks and feels natural.

Candidates for Mini Dental Implants

Most people who have lost one or more teeth are candidates for the mini implant procedure, especially if you lack the bone density needed for full-sized implants.

Tooth roots exert pressure your jawbone needs to stay healthy. Without this pressure, the body realizes that you’re missing a tooth and starts to reabsorb the minerals in your jaw to use elsewhere.

To your body, there’s no point in having a jawbone if there are no teeth to support. A mini implant solves this problem by acting much like a natural tooth root would to stimulate jawbone tissue.

Care Required for Mini Implants

Care for your mini implants is no different than it is for your natural teeth. This means that you should continue to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily. If we discover a lot of plaque and tartar buildup during your next appointment with us, our dentists may recommend adding fluoride mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine.

It has always been our goal to help patients achieve their best smiles. Before you leave our office, we’ll give you all the information you need to take care of your mini dental implants. If you have any questions about your oral health after the procedure, please don’t hesitate to call our office.

We Can Help You Say Goodbye to Missing Teeth

Our dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, are dedicated to helping patients restore their smiles after tooth loss. To request your appointment today, call GR Family Dental at (616) 455-3020.

This blog post has been updated.