Dental implants have been used since the 1970s and have been approved by the FDA since 1999 for permanent tooth replacement. These handy devices are basically titanium screws that are used to anchor one or more teeth prostheses directly into the bone.
Root Form Dental Implants
Traditionally, these screws were relatively large, approximately 3.65 mm in diameter and required a substantial amount of bone to which they are affixed. For people with an inadequate amount of bone material, a bone graft would be indicated prior to undergoing the implant procedure. This is a costly and painful process that delays final implant placement for up to six months in some cases. Recently, mini dental implants have hit the market.
Benefits of Mini Dental Implants
Still considered root form implants, these implants have smaller diameters, which offer many benefits over traditional implants.
- Less bone mass is required
- Implants can be placed immediately
- No bone grafts are necessary
- More people are good candidates for the procedure
- You can start eating right away
- No care other than normal brushing and flossing is required
If you are tired of the difficulties associated with wearing dentures and want a more permanent solution, please contact St. Louis implant dentist, Dr. Quigless to schedule an initial consultation.
