Mini Dental Implants For Denture Support
If you are missing the majority of the teeth of your upper or lower palate, you may be considering dentures. However, because dentures tend to slip about in the mouth, many people choose to have them supported by dental implants.
Standard dental implants are often used if the jawbone is thick and healthy. However, some atrophy of the bone tissue occurs when teeth are lost. If a prolonged period has transpired since you first lost your teeth, there has been no stimulation of the bone in the areas where the teeth once resided.
Bone stimulation occurs as the teeth experience the pressure of chewing. The pressure is transmitted to the jawbone, where new bone cells are produced in response to the stimulation.
If your jawbone has atrophied a bit, you may still be able to have implants placed to support your dentures. However, mini dental implants may be more suitable than standard implants.
Here is a bit of information about mini implants that are used to support dentures.
What Are Mini Implants?
Many implants are dental implants that are smaller in length and girth. As a result, they do not require as much bone tissue for their placement, making them suitable for people with jawbones that are no longer as thick as they once were.
How Are Mini Implants Placed?
During an in-office procedure, the dentist seats the mini implants in the bone of the jaw. The surgical procedure is not extremely invasive and can be completed quickly.
The dentist applies a local anesthetic to ensure that you are comfortable throughout the implants' placement. Once the area of the installation is fully numbed, the dentist inserts each implant through the gums into the jawbone.
The resulting wounds are allowed to heal. The healing process is usually complete within a few months. Like standard implants, mini implants undergo osseointegration, meaning that they integrate with the bone of the jaw. After the implants are inserted into the jawbone, bone cells grow around them, securing them firmly in position.
How Do the Mini Implants Attach to the Implant-Supported Denture?
The titanium post of a mini implant is fitted with an abutment. The abutment is similar in shape to a ball and is designed to fit into a socket-like mechanism on the bottom of the denture. The socket connector on the bottom of the denture includes an O-ring. This rubber ring snaps over the abutment of the implant, connecting the denture.
To learn more about dental implants, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.
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