What You Should Know about Dental Implants

Dental implants are by far the best choice when it comes to replacing a single tooth or several teeth. Traditional dental implants are surgically placed directly into the jawbone, and require several months of healing before they can be used like your normal teeth. Mini dental implants involve a less invasive placement procedure, and can often be used merely hours after placement. The type of implant that is right for you depends on a few different factors.

The strength and density of your jaw bone will play a big role in determining which type of dental implant best suits you. Traditional dental implants require that a certain amount of density exists in the jawbone before they are able to be placed. If you are lacking the necessary bone density, a bone graft surgery can performed to give your jawbone the needed strength. It can take up to nine months to fully heal from a bone graft, though. Alternatively, mini dental implants can be used on a patient without the proper density in their jawbone. Mini dental implants are placed onto the jawbone, without the need for the invasive surgery that is necessary when placing traditional dental implants.

Mini dental implants are most commonly used to secure dentures. Fixed bridge dentures are a form of implant-supported dentures that are not removable, while removable overdentures are a form of implant-supported dentures that are removable. Traditional implants can also be used to secure dentures, but in the case of senior citizens who are lacking the necessary bone support, mini dental implants are often used. Mini dental implants also tend to cost less than traditional implants.

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