For someone with a missing tooth or multiple teeth, dental implants are a way to address the problem and give a person a full, regular smile. There are two types of dental implants: mini dental implants and regular dental implants. What’s the difference?
Mini dental implants
Mini dental implants are an available option for people who want to replace lost teeth but don’t want, or for some reason cannot have, regular dental implants. They may not want to go through the long process or their mouths may not be able to properly support a regular implant. They are also useful to replace teeth in narrow parts of the mouth. This might include replacing smaller teeth, front teeth, pre-molars, and more. Mini implants are also useful for supporting dentures. They have the same structure as regular implants, but are slightly smaller in form. They have two parts: a titanium post with a ball attached to the end and a socket with an O-ring that attaches the implant to the post. Mini dental implants are not placed in the jawbone itself, they are placed into the gum, which is less invasive. Mini dental implants have a diameter about the size of a toothpick.
This small implant can usually be placed in one dental appointment with just a local anesthetic and no sutures, similar to what would happen if you got a cavity. People can also usually chew and eat with their new mini implants on the same day they get them. Mini dental implants are also less expensive than regular dental implants. They can be used as a temporary fix for someone with missing teeth until a more long-term solution can be figured out.
Regular dental implants
Regular dental implants are larger– the post where the implant is screwed into is much thicker than a toothpick. This post is then surgically placed into the jawbone, which takes preparation and multiple appointments. After the post is placed and the jaw has healed, an abutment is added as an extension of the implant metal post. Additional healing time may then be required. After that, molds will be taken of the area to create the final implant and then the dentist screws it into the post. Regular implants tend to last longer than mini implants because they are more stable since they’re screwed right into the jawbone. Because the process of getting a regular dental implants requires multiple appointments, it is often more expensive than getting a mini dental implant.
Here at Perdido Bay Dental, Dr. Djuric has been practicing implant dentistry in the Gulf Coast for over 25 years. Call us today to schedule a consultation: (850) 542-4428