Episode 8 ● Dental Health Podcast
Mini-Dental Implants- Securing loose Dentures and More!
By Dr. Jeff Shnall
General, Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry
Toronto, Canada
www.BeachDentistry.com
I am sure many of you have heard of dental implants, which have been available in North America for over the past 20 years but perhaps fewer of you have heard of mini dental implants.
I am Dr. Jeff Shnall and I am a general dentist in Toronto, Canada.
I have been placing both regular and mini implants for several years.
In this episode of the dental health podcast we will explain:
ü What mini dental implants are?
ü Their uses
ü How they differ from regular sized dental implants
ü Some of their advantages and disadvantages compared to regular sized dental implants.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE PHOTOS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MINI DENTAL IMPLANTS
PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO VISIT MY WEBSITE: http://beachdentistry.com/Text/1304280895375-4007/
What are Mini Implants?
First let’s describe what a mini dental implant is. Picture a small to medium length common screw you would find in a hardware store (10-15 mm or approximately ½ inch). A mini implant looks much like that screw, with threads running down its length. The mini implant has a small round ball on its top, at the end where you would normally place the screw driver.
Mini implants come in a variety of lengths but by definition, they must have a diameter of 3mm or less to be considered mini. Anything wider is considered a standard implant.
Mini implants, like standard sized implants are made from titanium.
How are mini implants used in dentistry?
One of the most popular uses of mini implants is to help hold full and partial dentures securely in the mouth.
If a patient is suffering with a loose full lower denture, ideally six mini implants can be placed in the lower jaw. They are usually placed in the front area of the jaw, where the six lower front teeth used to be. In the upper jaw eight mini implants are required.
After the mini’s are placed I will do one of the following: I may place special attachments into the patient’s denture that will allow the denture to snap onto the mini implants. However, sometimes we wait for several weeks to let the mini’s become more firmly anchored to the bone before placing permanent attachments in the denture. In this situation, I will place a soft liner in the denture where the minis are located. The soft liner will grip the round ball shaped tops of the mini implants, and will help keep the denture stable while we are waiting for the implants to become permanently anchored to the bone.
Once the implants are in place, attachments can be placed into the patient’s existing denture, allowing the denture to be snapped into the mouth, onto the implants. The goal is to have the patient able to have their denture secured to the mini implants the same day they are placed. So, now the lower or upper denture sits firmly in the mouth and the patient can eat and talk with confidence.
Mini implants can also be placed into the upper or lower jaw to retain a partial denture, which is a denture that patients wear if they are missing some of their teeth.
The advantage of a mini implant in this situation is that one or two mini implants can be placed to allow a partial denture to be held in instead of relying on partial denture clasps, which can sometimes be unsightly, can break, or loosen over time. So if you wear a partial denture, mini implants might be something worth looking into
Final words
My office can help arrange financing for our patients, so a miserably loose lower denture can be converted into a stable denture secured by mini implants for a fee that can suit most budgets.
If you would like more information on Mini-Implants please visit my website at www.BeachDentistry.com
If mini implants interest you?
1. Call our office for a consultation for a free 15 minute consultation to see if
Intra-lock mini implants are right for you. We’re located in Toronto, Canada: Our number is 416-691-2886
2. You can also email us at BeachDentistry@gmail.com you can also visit my office website for other information about dentistry and my practice at BeachDentistry.com
3. I can be reached by email at DentalHealthPodcast @gmail.com
Musical Credits:
A special thanks to musician Carrie Cunningham, whose song appropriately titled “Smile Again” was today’s musical intro. You can hear her song on Mevio’s Music Alley. Visit music.mevio.com for more great songs. (Here’s their link:
http://www.musicalley.com/
Also, big thanks to the band Time Warrior, whose song Mellow Balkys appeared in the close of our podcast. This song is also available on Music Alley. http://www.musicalley.com/