If you have a missing tooth, you might be considering replacing it with a dental implant. This is a great option, but you don't necessarily need a full dental implant. New dental technology has paved the way for mini dental implants, which have many of the same benefits, but are smaller and include an easier procedure. Here are some benefits of getting a mini dental implant as opposed to a full-sized one.
The Procedure is Less Invasive
Since the titanium post is shorter, a less invasive procedure is required to place it. The procedure requires only a small amount of jawbone to have a hole drilled into it, which is done after administering an anesthetic. The metal post is screwed into the hole made in the bone, then tightened. It can be anchored in the jaw without any additional procedures, and you can get your prosthetic tooth placed during this appointment. Full-sized dental implants require osseointegration, a healing of the jaw bone, to occur before placing the prosthetic tooth on top.
They Cost Less
You may also be saving money by choosing the mini dental implant option. Mini implants require less visits to your dentist's office and a shorter procedure time. This allows the dentist to charge considerably less for the procedure than if they did a full-sized implants. The full implant procedure is more invasive and may require additional procedures, such as grafts and gum flap surgery. This adds to the overall cost of the implants.
Less Bone Density is Required
If you have been missing your tooth for a while, you might have some bone loss. Luckily, you don't need quite as much bone density for a mini implant than you would with a traditional implant. The metal post is much shorter, so less bone is required to place it and keep it secure. Unless you have severe loss of jawbone where you have the missing tooth, you shouldn't need to get a bone graft procedure first.
There is an Easier Recovery Period
As far as the recovery is concerned, it tends to be easier than with other implants. The mini implant procedure takes less time and isn't as complex, so the recovery offers less discomfort. You shouldn't need much more than an over-the-counter medication to relieve pain. The length of recovery can also be reduced when you choose this type of dental implant procedure.
Talk to a dentist like Olympia Dental and Implant Center about the possibility of getting a mini dental implant.
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