Mini implants are just smaller versions of regular sized implants.
They are marketed as being painless and simple which is no different than a regular dental implant. Unfortunately, they have been marketed to a certain subset of dentists who don’t want to do surgery or have any experience in surgery. Because of this they are marketed as being placed without an incision. This marketing of only the benefits has completely overshadowed some of the risks that are rarely discussed.
Placing implants without an incision is MUCH more dangerous then placing implants with an incision. The reason is because the dentist is working blindly and can easily perforate the bone, which could even lead to a life-threatening situation.
I have been placing implants for 10 years, many of which had no incision. But these mini dental implants are for very experienced implant surgeons in very ideal situations. The ideal situation is only found about 5% of the time. There is no way I would place mini implants in my own family.
The other thing that is rarely mentioned to patients is that mini implants bend! Yes, they are bendable. Similar to a credit card that can be bent over and over, they eventually fracture or become loose necessitating their removal. I have removed many mini implants from unhappy patients who thought this was permanent.
Mini implants are mostly marketed to patients that have no lower teeth. Although they may be slightly less expensive in the short term, they have long-term problems. Their small diameter just makes them weak.
The best use for these implants is to use them as “temporary implants” while waiting for regular healing to take place.
A mini dental implant is defined as being smaller than 3.0 mm in diameter.
The bottom line…mini implants equal major risks.
I would not recommend this for anyone.
Why have 10 –15 mini dental implants that are weak, than 8 standard diameter dental implants?
Also a full arch zirconia bridge is still in the experimental phase in my honest opinion.
There is very little study to support these concepts.
I think you may be asking for long-term complications or even total failure.
Respectfully,
Dr. Amin
Posted by: Dr. Ramsey Amin | September 12, 2009 at 09:42 PM
Dr. Amin,
Hi. This is Debi again from Houston. I was wondering what your opinion of an all zirconia implant supported(w/mini implants 10-15 per arch) fixed bridge with some type of glaze for the teeth coloring would be. I had a dentist give me that option and his price seems too good to be true. He basically does minis all the time.
Thanks, Debi
Posted by: Debi | September 12, 2009 at 09:27 PM