If you are reading this, chances are you are interested in having dental implants placed. The good news is that dental implants are suitable for most patients! There are more options today than ever to accommodate the clinical needs of our patients, their anatomy, as well as their expectations of treatment excellence. Let’s explore the possibilities of both traditional and mini dental implants.

Traditional dental implants have proven success in patient treatment dating back to the 1940’s but originate as far back as Mayan times. Traditional implants have had much success but do come along with some limitations.

All dental implants are fabricated from a titanium alloy, which is strong, durable, and biocompatible. Traditional implant size typically ranges from 3.5-6mm in diameter and 10-12mm in length. A patient can be considered a candidate for a traditional dental implant if they have enough bone height and depth to support the implant size. However, some patients may not have the required amount of jawbone to support a traditional dental implant. A common reason for this is the location of nerves within the jawbone. A nerve can be negatively impacted during the placement of a dental implant, which can possibly lead to temporary or permanent tingling and numbness of the surrounding area. Your dentist can determine if the position of your nerves is suitable for traditional implant placement with the use of diagnostic CBCT image scanning.

Bone deficiency does not disqualify a patient from dental implant treatment; but it could mean additional surgical procedures are necessary for a successful outcome. Bone augmentation, bone grafting or a sinus lift may be required to achieve the sufficient height and depth of bone prior to implant placement. These procedures can extend treatment time, create additional surgical complications, and add additional cost.

Once a traditional implant is placed, it will take several months for healing to occur. This process is called osseointegration, when the surrounding bone forms around the implant and it becomes fully fused to the patient’s jawbone.

While this process takes some time, it is necessary to ensure the implant can withstand the chewing forces exerted on it for years to come. With appropriate care and oral hygiene, most traditional dental implants can last for many years-and up to a lifetime, depending on the patient, their lifestyle, and the location of the implants. Comparatively, Mini Dental Implants (MDI) or Small Diameter Implants (SDI), have provided an alternative for those patients who lack the required jawbone, or those not interested in tolerating the additional surgical requirements for traditional implants.

MDIs were conceived in the 1970’s. They were approved by FDA and began marketing in the 1990’s. Though their inception is more recent, research has validated their position within the dental implant market for clinical use-cases.

Compared to traditional dental implants, the size of an MDI /SDI typically ranges from 1.8 to 3 mm in diameter. As a result, MDI/SDI does not require the same amount of jawbone compared to traditional implants. Patients who have reduced height or depth of jawbone could be considered for MDI/SDI and can still expect a successful outcome (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

The size of MDI/SDIs allow for a more streamlined surgical process for patients, a less invasive procedure experience, less inflammation, and faster healing time. Many of the surgical requirements associated with traditional implants do not need to be considered with MDI or SDI.

Research has proven that both traditional and MDI/SDI have successful outcomes in the placement of immediate dental implants. Immediate implants are placed in the space of a permanent tooth immediately following its removal (this takes into consideration that the tooth replaced will be immediately used by its successor). Not all patients are candidates, but certain circumstances may allow for this. Ask your dentist if you could be a candidate for immediate dental implant placement.

While research is still determining if MDI/SDI have the same long-term outcome as traditional dental implants, it can be deduced that MDI/SDI are a great choice for:
-Support for a partial denture in the upper or lower jaw
-Support for a full denture in the upper or lower jaw
-Support for a multi-unit bridge
-Support for a single non-load bearing area of the mouth.

Despite the versatility of MDI/SDI, they may not be a good choice to replace a single tooth in a load-bearing area of the mouth, such as a back molar. Previous research has shown that MDI/SDI have a shorter life span compared to the traditional implants. However, current scientific advancements in this area can argue that both have a similar lifetime capacity.

In either case, both types of implants do require a dentist to complete a careful screening of patients. It is important for a patient to understand their responsibility in the implant treatment

process. Some factors that could potentially exclude a patient from receiving dental implants could be the following:
-History of severe periodontal disease
-Smoker or tobacco use
-Uncontrolled Diabetic patients
-Poor oral hygiene

It is also important to note that once an implant is placed, the patient is required to maintain oral hygiene and care for the implant as they would their normal teeth. While the denture or the crown replacing missing teeth is not susceptible to cavities, exceptional brushing and flossing are still needed to keep the supporting tissues around the dental implant healthy and viable for a lifetime.

Ask your dentist today if you could be a mini dental implant candidate!

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