Mini Dental Implant Information

Written By Dr. Benjamin D. Oppenheimer, D.D.S.
Article Source: http://www.osseonews.com

The tremendous versatility of mini dental implants and the success of these treatment plans over the past decade have resulted in many clinicians choosing to implement mini dental implants in their practices. As mini dental implants gain wider acceptance with general dentists and specialists, their uses have increased from simply securing a lower denture to retaining maxillary dentures, partial dentures, and now even some limited fixed applications. In addition to 3M IMTEC, who has been manufacturing their MDI System over 10 years, various other implant manufactures are now beginning to offer smaller diameter implants in addition to their conventional implants as a result of this demand.

Mini dental implants are by no means intended for all implant indications, or meant as a replacement for conventional implants. However, when used responsibly they can help clinicians to present some patients with more treatment options that can result in increased implant case acceptance. Many patients with limited bone for conventional implants can be successfully rehabilitated with mini dental implants. The surgical procedure does not typically require a flap, making it minimally invasive and as such, appealing to both patients and clinicians. Additionally, as cost is sometimes a factor that deters patients from considering implant dentistry, mini dental implants can offer a more economical treatment option to these patients and may attract a wider clientele to the dental practice, enabling more people to subsequently improve the quality of their lives through dental implant treatment.