Mini Implant Retained Dentures
Since their introduction in the late 1990's, mini implants are beginning to become the standard of care for retaining lower dentures. Unlike the standard implants discussed above, there is no three to six month waiting period before mini implants can be loaded (support the denture).
Mini implants can generally be placed in the lower jaw without cutting an incision in the gums. The only anesthesia used is an injection directly over the site of each implant. The old lower denture can then be retrofitted directly over the newly placed
implants, and the patient can use the denture immediately. Furthermore, because the implants are about the size of a standard wooden toothpick (they are made out of a titanium alloy), patients who have been told that there is not enough bone to accommodate standard implants can generally be fitted with minis.
The entire procedure (placing the implants and retrofitting the old denture so that it is supported by the newly placed minis) takes about one hour. It is generally painless, and produces very minimal post operative discomfort. Finally, due to the ease of insertion, this procedure is much less expensive than standard implants for retaining lower
dentures.
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