Traditional vs. Mini Dental Implants: Finding the Right Solution for Your Smile [Video Breakdown]

According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the number of people with dental implants is growing by around 500,000 each year. This spike in popularity is likely due to the incredible stability implants provide compared to other restorative procedures. Unlike traditional bridges or dentures, dental implants replace your missing tooth roots by embedding in your jawbone. Then, using that secure connection, an implant dentist will anchor a crown, bridge, or denture in place to restore your smile! However, there is more than one type of implant. Between reliable traditional dental implants and innovative mini dental implants, it can be tough to know which implant is right for you. If you’re stuck between traditional vs. mini dental implants, visit us in Springfield, MO!

With over 40 years of experience placing dental implants, we will help you find the solution that suits your smile.

The Mini Dental Implant Center of America in Springfield, MO

At the Mini Dental Implant Center of America (MDICA) in Springfield, MO, we offer mini dental implants. Being an MDICA, our practice is part of an elite network of practices that focus on mini implants. With extensive knowledge and experience on our side, we deliver incredible outcomes that leave you smiling confidently.

While mini dental implants may not be the right choice for everyone, we find that most patients prefer mini implants over traditional implants. This preference is no surprise, as mini implants offer various advantages over their traditional counterparts.

When it comes to traditional vs. mini dental implants, it’s important to consider their differences in structure, placement, and cost. With these in mind, we will determine which implant is right for your smile.

Traditional vs. Mini Dental Implants: Structure

Traditional dental implants are, on average, 5 mm in diameter. This size requires a substantial amount of bone in order to stabilize in your jaw. However, many patients lack the necessary jaw structure, requiring additional procedures to rebuild lost bone.

In contrast, mini dental implants are anything less than 3 mm in diameter. While this size difference may seem insignificant, consider the difference in width between a toothpick and the eraser at the end of a pencil, and which you would rather have in your jaw.

Also, thanks to their small diameter, mini implants fit into minimal bone! After bone loss, most patients remain eligible for mini dental implants, even if they aren’t good candidates for traditional implants. Instead of requiring bone augmentation, most patients skip right to mini implant placement to restore their smile.

Traditional vs. Mini Dental Implants: Placement

To place traditional implants, an incision must first be made in your gums. Then, after exposing the bone, a series of drills will be used to create a hole in your jaw.

Traditional implants have a multi-piece design, with each piece placed separately. Once the implant body is in your jaw, your gums will be stitched back up to begin the healing process. Then, in a few months, your gums will be reopened to place the second part of a traditional implant: the abutment.

Abutments are the connector piece of an implant that attaches to your restoration. After a few short weeks of healing with an abutment and temporary restoration, we restore your smile with a final crown, bridge, or denture!

Mini dental implants have a much simpler one-piece design and, therefore, a simpler procedure. Rather than making incisions in your gums, we simply make a small pilot hole through your gum tissue and into your jawbone. This minimally invasive process preserves most of your surrounding jaw structure, allowing for faster healing.

Once your mini implant is in your jawbone, it will immediately begin to secure. Because these implants have a built-in abutment that extends above your gum line, we can actually secure a temporary, yet functional restoration in that same appointment. In some cases, we may even be able to secure a final crown or denture on the same day we place your implants, providing you with brand-new teeth in one day.

After a few short weeks with your temporary solution, we will then switch it out for a final restoration, restoring your smile without the hassle of traditional implant procedures.

Traditional vs. Mini Dental Implants: Cost

Both traditional and mini dental implants restore your smile by securing a crown, bridge, or denture. But mini dental implants provide faster results at a lower price!

Traditional dental implants involve multiple components and procedures. And when paying for various pieces and appointments, the cost of your treatment adds up quickly. This is especially a concern for those with minimal bone structure, who may need an additional procedure to qualify for implants.

In contrast, mini dental implants come at a more affordable price. With only one piece and one placement appointment to pay for, patients often find that mini implants work better for their budget. Additionally, these implants rarely require bone augmentation procedures, saving patients time and money.

Between traditional vs. mini dental implants, mini implants have a clear cost advantage for patients to enjoy.

Restore Your Smile at the MDICA in Springfield, MO!

Dental implants are more popular than ever. With their rise in popularity, it can be difficult to know where to start and which implant to use. At MDICA in Springfield, MO, we focus on mini implants because of the incredible benefits they offer. These small-diameter implants fit in minimal bone and have a minimally invasive procedure. Thanks to these benefits, mini implants are even less expensive than their traditional counterparts. Book a free implant consultation with us to discover if mini dental implant solutions are the right choice for your smile.

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