Ever heard of mini implants? A guide to these tiny dental implants from our team

There are many reasons to approach a dental team looking for oral implants.

Perhaps you have had enough of that gap in your smile. Or maybe you want to restore the strength to your bite and have tried wearing dentures?

Whatever the reason, it can be disheartening, to say the least, to learn that you aren’t suited for traditional implants.

Luckily, if you have lost some of your jaw bone or have a weakened jaw, you can still have oral implants fitted; they may just be mini or micro-implants.

At High Dental Implants in Melbourne, we have a wealth of experience fitting this implant type and can assess if you are suitable for them at your initial consultation with our team. We can also provide you tips surrounding aftercare, to ensure that your newly fitted implants provide you with the security you need to maintain your smile for many years to come. Great!

So, what are mini dental implants in Melbourne and how do they differ from regular options? Read on to find out the answers to these questions and more!

How big are they?

Compared to regular dental implants in Melbourne, which are around 5mm in diameter, mini implants are less than 3 mm in diameter. In fact, they have been referred to by patients in the past as ‘toothpick’ implants, due to their minute size.

They also have a ball-shaped end that protrudes from the jaw bone which the prosthetic tooth or teeth attach to.

Can they support a set of dentures?

Not on their own.

If you want to have a set of dentures fitted, you will need to have a regular oral implant fitted alongside mini implants to ensure that the dentures are secure.

However, if you need to have a bridge or partial bridge fitted, it is possible to achieve this with the use of mini implants; talk to our team for more information.

Do they have any special aftercare requirements?

No, they don’t.

Once fitted (and the prosthetic tooth or teeth are attached), you will need to brush your prosthetic teeth to remove bacteria and plaque which can cause gum disease. As mini implants are smaller, it takes a lot less swelling to remove them, so gum disease is a big no-no with this restorative.

Do they need the same fusing time as endosteal implants?

No; as they are placed through the gum line and are a great deal smaller than their regular counterparts, they do not require the same fusing time as regular implants.

Typically, it will take mini-implants up to 3 months to fuse with your jaw.

Can I smoke when they have been fitted?

As we mentioned earlier, these implants are a lot thinner and so, it requires less inflammation of disturbance for them to come loose.

So, while we cannot stop you from smoking, if you want to have your mini implants to have a long life, we suggest refraining from this habit and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Simple!

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.