Are Mini Dental Implants Less Invasive than Traditional Implants?

Stacey asks:
I am missing a tooth on either side of the two main upper teeth. I am most concerned about healing time and the invasive procedures used in traditional implant placement. But, I have read a bit about mini dental implants and this seems less invasive with a faster healing time. Is this true? Would mini implants be an option for my upper missing teeth?

Answered by: Dr. Allan Fuhr

Boca Raton, FL

Hi Stacey,

Yes, Mini dental implants are an excellent option for congenitally-missing lateral incisor teeth with an excellent long-term success rate. And yes they are different than standard dental implant methods and can be considered less invasive than standard-sized implants in many applications.

Basically, because mini dental implants are so narrow they are typically inserted directly through the overlying gum tissue and into the bone underneath. Consequently the need to surgically cut and "flap" open the gum tissue, routinely required for standard implant systems, is avoided in most Mini Dental Implant applications. As a result, post-insertion patient irritation and soreness is significantly reduced.

Generally, a single, minimally invasive surgery is needed for insertion of the Mini Dental Implants. The implants are then put into immediate biting or "loading" function. As a result, it is often possible to provide the complete mini implant service in a single office visit.

Finally, be sure your Dentist is trained in the use of mini-implants for crown and bridge prosthetics