Patients from Bath go mini implants at Clifton Dental Studio
The mini implant is a dental implant that is exactly as it sounds – a smaller version of the normal sized implant. It was originally designed as a temporary measure to be removed at a later date and replaced by the full sized version. However, they were found to be useful in their own right, working especially well as a replacement for small teeth or incisors. Patients from Bath and surrounding areas have found the mini implant to be an excellent alternative to full implants. If a patient’s x-ray shows bone loss then they normally require a bone graft before the implant is inserted. However, they may be reluctant to do so, either for reasons of age or health. If this is the case then a mini dental implant may be an acceptable choice instead. It is a solid although smaller form of implant and does not require the patient to undergo a bone graft beforehand. The mini implant consists of a slim titanium rod that has a fixture which can be incorporated into a denture. The head of the implant is shaped like a ball and the retaining attachment contains a rubber ‘O-ring’ that acts like a socket. The O-ring holds the denture in place by snapping over the ball at the top of the implant. This enables the denture to rest nicely on top of the gum tissue. The mini implant is placed in the jawbone but because of their limited height do not fuse easily with the jaw. However, they do last a long time and tend to be used as a means of stabilising the lower denture, especially in older patients. They are fast becoming a popular choice of implant for many patients who are uncomfortable with the thought of a full implant or are worried about the cost.Tags: Mini dental implants
