3 Reasons to Choose Traditional Dental Implants Over Mini Implants
Posted on: 4 April 2023
Losing one or more of your teeth can be distressing, and it can impact your oral health as well as your mental well-being. However, dental implants are available to effectively restore lost teeth. Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants are fitted into the jawbone to provide a more durable and dependable solution.
If you're thinking about having dental implants fitted, you may have noticed that mini implants are now available. These work much like regular implants, but they are much smaller. Additionally, mini implants have a small ball on their exposed ends to provide an anchor point for the elastic O-rings that hold false teeth, whereas traditional implants are capped with an abutment.
Mini implants do offer several benefits, especially for those with reduced jawbone density, but most patients will be better off choosing traditional implants. Here are just three reasons why.
1. Greater Stability
Since mini dental implants are smaller than traditional implants, they may not be as stable. The larger posts of a regular implant allow for better weight distribution and put less stress on the jawbone below. Since they cover a larger surface area, traditional dental implants also provide a much stronger chewing force. As such, mini implants are more prone to failure – this is especially true for patients who suffer from bruxism (chronic tooth grinding or clenching) since this pressure can weaken mini implants over time.
2. Fewer Implants Required
While the fact that mini implants are smaller than traditional ones means procedures are less invasive, it's common for more of them to be needed to provide the same level of support. You may require two mini dental implants to do the same job as one standard implant. For those who need implants to support a bridge, it's relatively common to require four or more mini implants as opposed to one or two traditional implants. This is sometimes necessary where the jawbone isn't dense enough, but it's generally better to opt for as few implants as possible.
3. Long-Term Solution
Mini implants can last a lifetime, but traditional implants are generally considered a more long-term solution. This is partly down to durability, but you'll also have to account for the fact that the rubber O-rings used for mini implants can become loose or wear out over time, which can lead to problems if they aren't regularly replaced. Such replacements are not necessary with traditional implants, so many patients find it easy to effectively forget they aren't their normal teeth after a few months have passed.
Contact a dental services clinic for more info.
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