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How do Mini Implants Work?

Josie Myers
Josie Myers

Mini Dental Implants (MDI), also called mini implants, are an alternative to regular dental implants. They are about half the width of standard implants, cost about one quarter the price, and require no recovery time. They are about the size of a toothpick and are considered a permanent implant.

Mini implants first started being placed about 1970, but were not deemed permanent or long-term replacements until 1999 when ruled so by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since it is a relatively new procedure, no one is sure how long they last. Many of the implants put into place since the 1970s were still functioning 30 years later.

An illustration of the parts of a dental implant.
An illustration of the parts of a dental implant.

Sometimes called narrow implants, a mini implant is about half the width of regular implants and only about .07 inches (1.8 mm) in diameter. This makes them useful not only for use with dentures, but for supporting crowns when space for an implant is limited. They are made of titanium alloy and come in various lengths, each to accommodate different bones densities. Patients without enough bone to support a regular implant can almost always get minis.

Mini implants are an alternative to regular dental implants.
Mini implants are an alternative to regular dental implants.

During the procedure, a light anesthetic is used right on the gums. The mini implants can often be put right through the gums and into the bone without an incision in the gum. A pilot hole is drilled into the bone in the jaw with a small hand tool. The implants are screwed into the bone using the hand and a small thumb wrench. Usually four mini implants are placed on the lower jaw along the line where the six front teeth would have been.

The procedure to place mini implants takes about 90 minutes.
The procedure to place mini implants takes about 90 minutes.

The whole procedure takes about 90 minutes, and patients are left with little discomfort or pain that cannot be treated easily with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Mini implants can accommodate dentures right after surgery. Even those that require incisions because of various bone abnormalities can still immediately use their dentures. This is a welcome alternative to the three to six month healing time that standard implants require.

Dentures are retrofitted using one of two methods. The first method is to hollow out a portion of the denture and fill the hollow with a soft reline material. This material allows some level of movement and must be replaced regularly.

Ibuprofen can help relieve pain associated with mini dental implants.
Ibuprofen can help relieve pain associated with mini dental implants.

The second method is permanent and uses a rubber o-ring over each implant to house the dentures. The hollow of the denture is ground down until the dentures fit together correctly and a hard plastic fills the hollow. The dentures are placed back over the housings and the patient bites down during the curing process. After complete, the dentures should snap down over the housings in a permanent fix.

Dental implants provide effective replacement for people who have lost a tooth due to gum disease.
Dental implants provide effective replacement for people who have lost a tooth due to gum disease.

There are some people who are not suited to getting mini implants. People with uncontrolled diabetes, a history of radiation treatments on the jaw, immuno-suppressed patients, and those with substance abuse should not get this surgery. Other people are more likely to have complications, but are not necessarily precluded from getting the surgery. Those with heavy smoking or drinking, Sjorgren's syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, people who clench their teeth, and young people who are still growing are not the best candidates.

Discussion Comments

pareshpatel

Mini Dental Implants can also be used to support crowns and bridges. They are better suited in areas where the bone has reabsorbed than a conventional implant. The mini dental implant would more than likely not need a bone graft or bone expansion.

anon108977

I have several mini implants placed in my upper jaw for a fixed bridge. They have been there for over three years. So for me they work.

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    • An illustration of the parts of a dental implant.
      By: Alexandr Mitiuc
      An illustration of the parts of a dental implant.
    • Mini implants are an alternative to regular dental implants.
      By: yanmingzhang
      Mini implants are an alternative to regular dental implants.
    • The procedure to place mini implants takes about 90 minutes.
      By: Vladimir Melnik
      The procedure to place mini implants takes about 90 minutes.
    • Ibuprofen can help relieve pain associated with mini dental implants.
      By: Bob Rannells
      Ibuprofen can help relieve pain associated with mini dental implants.
    • Dental implants provide effective replacement for people who have lost a tooth due to gum disease.
      By: Igor Gromoff
      Dental implants provide effective replacement for people who have lost a tooth due to gum disease.
    • Dental implants require the same regular brushing and flossing as natural teeth.
      By: GVictoria
      Dental implants require the same regular brushing and flossing as natural teeth.