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Mini Implants
 Miniaturized implants for denture stabilization is one of the fastest growing segments in the dental product industry. Mini implants are frequently used for single tooth replacements and in crown and bridge cases.
A popular and most effective use of this technology is stabilization of the lower denture. These devices represent a very efficient solution for denture wearers who have experienced extreme discomfort due to loose and ill fitting dentures. Problems associated with trapped food particles, "denture breath" and common social issues are virtually eliminated.
Unlike standard implants, mini implants allow immediate loading. This means that the patient walks out of the office on the day of surgery with a lower denture which is not only solidly stable, but can be used to eat immediately. Mini implants can often (not always) be placed in the lower jaw without cutting an incision in the gums. in other words, they can often be placed right through the gums directly into the underlying bone. Most of the time, the only anesthetic necessary is an injection directly over the position in the gums where each implant is to be placed. The old lower denture can then be retrofitted over the newly placed implants, and the patient can use the denture immediately without waiting for the three to six months necessary for a standard implant to integrate. 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 90 minutes. It is generally painless, and produces very minimal post operative discomfort.
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