Basically, mini dental implants (MDIs) are just implants with a smaller diameter. Dental implants often split into two distinct categories on the basis of diameter. If your implant has a diameter of fewer than three millimeters, it is a “mini.”
What Are Mini Dental Implants?
Standard or conventional implants are generally at least four millimeters across. Mini dental implants are sometimes known as small diameter implants (SDIs) or narrow body implants (NDIs). Some of them work as anchors for orthodontic procedures. In that case, they are known as temporary anchorage devices (TADs). These differ from other mini dental implants, because the practitioner takes them out once the orthodontic treatment has finished and they are no longer necessary.
Mini dental implants are not weaker than wider ones; rather, the strength of a dental implant comes from its length rather than its width. It is possible to buy a mini dental implant with multiple thread, tip, head and body designs, although most tips come sharp or just a bit blunt to allow the implant some self-tapping capacity as it goes through the medullary bone.
Some designs that have some bluntness look at the bone’s compression as a benefit. Designs in thread vary between thin and thick, and the spacing between threads also varies. These variations permit the use of implants in a variety of bone densities that occur in the mouth. The body links the tip with the head, either shaped as a cone or a cylinder. These design elements contribute to the overall stability of the implant. The key factor, though, is the density of the bone.
Mini dental plants are useful for patients with lower dentures that have loosened and need a simple solution. At Shine Dental Associates, we offer a free consultation with our board-certified periodontist, Dr. Mittle, so you can discuss whether mini dental implants are a good option for you. Call our Syosset office at (516) 348-8500.
