Minimally invasive dentistry refers to dental care that prioritizes preserving as much tissue as possible. Oral surgeries typically involve removing excess gum and bone tissue. But with minimally invasive dentistry, we keep as much of your natural gum and bone structure as possible, which improves recovery and reduces post-operative discomfort. At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, we often use minimally invasive dental implants to replace missing teeth. These titanium screws have a simpler, gentler placement process that preserves most of the tissue around your implant. But don’t worry, minimally invasive implants are just as effective as their traditional counterparts!
To learn if you’re eligible for minimally invasive dental implants, book a free consultation with us in East Longmeadow, MA.
Minimally Invasive Mini Dental Implants
At our office, we offer mini dental implants. These titanium posts are minimally invasive because of their smaller, sleeker design, which changes how we place them.
A mini implant is a one-piece titanium post that we embed in your jawbone. Instead of making an incision in your gums (like we would for a traditional implant), we simply create a small pilot hole through the gums and into the bone. The opening for mini implants is also smaller than the opening we make for traditional implants.
To place mini implants, we create a small pilot hole in your jaw that’s about the width of a toothpick. This opening is also less deep than a traditional implant opening. And because these titanium screws are threaded like a self-tapping screw, they immediately begin integrating with your jawbone.
After placement, a mini implant is strong enough to support restorations like crowns, bridges, or dentures in just a few weeks. While traditional dental implants require months of healing, mini implants are typically complete in less than a month.
Minimally Invasive Implants vs. Traditional Implants
Mini implants and traditional implants differ in more ways than just placement. While both implants have their uses, we generally use minimally invasive implants whenever possible to provide patients with the most comfortable option.
| Mini Dental Implants | Traditional Dental Implants | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Appointments | Because mini implants have only one component, we place them in a single appointment. This saves you both time and money on treatment. | Traditional dental implants have multiple components that we place at separate appointments. However, the more visits you need, the more expensive your procedure becomes. |
| Amount of Jawbone | Mini dental implants are anything 3 mm in diameter or below. Thanks to their slim diameter, they require less jawbone structure to anchor in place. | Traditional dental implants are anything over 3 mm in diameter. But the larger the implant, the more bone it requires. Unfortunately, many patients don’t have enough bone to fit traditional implants without additional procedures. |
| Price of Treatment | With fewer visits and fewer pieces to pay for, mini implants are typically less pricey than traditional implants. And without any additional procedures, these titanium posts may be even half the cost of traditional dental implants. | Traditional implants require multiple visits and pieces, which makes them more expensive than mini dental implants. And for patients who need additional procedures to rebuild lost bone, treatment will be even more expensive. |
Are You a Candidate for Minimally Invasive Dental Implants?
Not everyone is eligible for minimally invasive mini dental implant treatment. While more people than ever are able to replace missing teeth with mini implants, they still aren’t the right fit for everyone.
Patients who are replacing molars, or the teeth in the back of their mouth, may need a traditional-sized implant. Because these teeth face a lot of pressure when you chew, a wider implant base helps keep them steady while eating. Additionally, some patients may have softer bone. Because mini implants require hard bone for support, these patients may benefit from a traditional implant.
It’s also important to note that some patients may not be eligible for either implant treatment. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes, other autoimmune disorders, or who smoke cigarettes may find healing from implant treatment more difficult. We will need to get these issues under control before placing dental implants to help prevent implant failure.
When you book a free consultation with us, we’ll take a look at your situation and your jawbone quality. With all the information we need, we can determine if you’re eligible for minimally invasive mini dental implants or traditional dental implants.
Book a Free Consultation at East Longmeadow Family Dental Center
Minimally invasive dentistry involves preserving as much of your natural gum and bone tissue as possible. These gentle procedures help facilitate faster healing and better recovery for most patients and reduce post-operative discomfort. If you’re interested in minimally invasive dental implants, book a free consultation at East Longmeadow Family Dental Center! We will help you determine whether you’re eligible for treatment and work with you to find a solution that fits your needs and budget.
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