Mini Dental Implant

Dental implants come in a variety of sizes, including standard root form, midi or hybrid, and mini. The size is determined by the diameter of the titanium implant screw, and the size of the implant you receive is much dependant on the density of your jawbone and the place within the mouth where the implant will be placed. A mini dental implant is the smallest kind, not only thinner, but cheaper than its larger counterparts. It also takes less time to bond to the bone and the procedure is far less invasive.

What Is a Mini Dental Implant?

Mini dental implants, also known as MDI’s, are small titanium screws that resemble the size of a toothpick. The most common sizes are 1.8mm, 2.1mm and 2.4mm. There are also 2.9mm thick MDI’s as well, which are often known as hybrids, as they are only 0.1mm smaller than normal midi hybrid implants, but still require less surgical work. MDI’s also come in lengths of 10mm, 13mm, 15mm and 18mm, and they are placed far more easily than other implants.

What Is a Midi Dental Implant?

Midi or hybrid implants are larger than mini implants at about 3mm, but are still smaller than traditional implants. Hybrids are mainly utilized for replacing upper jaw teeth near the front of the mouth, as the bone matter here is softer. The procedure for midi implantation is a bit more involved, requiring a larger hole and incision, and these rarely qualify for same-day procedures because of their softer anchor bone.

What Is a Standard Root Form Implant?

Also known as maxi implants, these are at smallest 3.3mm and at largest 6mm. These are best for replacing frequently used molars and require a much more invasive procedure. These are the most expensive dental implants and will require between 4 and 6 months of healing time.

The Advantages of Having a Mini Dental Implant

Healing

Because of how small the MDI is, the procedure goes much more quickly and is less invasive, cutting back the healing time to sometimes less than half that of a traditional implant. The small portion of titanium will usually only take up to two months to fuse to the jawbone, and the MDI will qualify for same-day implantation with a temporary crown. After the month or two of healing has passed, the permanent crown will be affixed.

Cost

Mini implants are so small in comparison to others that the price is far reduced. They use very little titanium which lowers the manufacturing cost so that the main price you will be paying for is the tooth crown. If you need a dental implant, talk to your dentist today about whether or not you qualify for a mini dental implant.