Dental Implants vs Mini Implants Newport Beach, CA
Losing teeth, either mentally or physically, is traumatic. The good thing is dental implants can help restore your smile, giving you the lost functionality and confidence that people with full teeth are set to enjoy. Many people have realized improved daily function, confidence, and excellent oral health with teeth restoration. The two types of implants are traditional dental implants and mini implants. At Enamel General and Cosmetic Dentistry we help patients determine the effect of the dental implant type that suits them. We have experienced staff with extensive knowledge of dental implants that you can count on for a successful dental implant procedure.
A dental implant refers to a titanium piece or other material resembling a screw. Dental implants are placed into the jawbone where missing tooth roots are placed. After some time, the bone will grow around the implant, holding it firmly into place. A crown will be attached to fill the gap left by the missing tooth. The crown functions and looks like the other natural tooth in color, size, and shape.
Mini Implants
Just like traditional dental implants, mini implants are implanted into the jawbone, although they are smaller in diameter. Mini implants, unlike standard dental implants, lack the abutment (connector piece to the dental crown). Mini implants are also cheaper when compared to dental implants, and their installation procedure is easier and faster. Local anesthesia is applied. The mini implant is placed in a single appointment. The entire procedure lasts two hours.
Dental Implants vs. Mini Implants
Dental implants are fabricated from titanium since it is among the few metals that are biocompatible with the human body. The titanium will never trigger any immune response against the body. The mini implants are half the size of the normal dental implants in diameter. Normal dental implants are made up of three parts: the dental implant post, inserted into the jawbone; the abutment, fixed onto the post, and a restoration tooth. Mini dental implants are made up of two parts since the abutment and implant post are one.
In dental implants, our dentist will make an incision into the gum tissue exposing the jawbone to enable the implant to be placed. In mini implants, posts are directly inserted into the jawbone through the gum tissues. No gum incision is made since the post is narrower than the normal dental implant.
A dental implant procedure comprises three different stages covering a couple of months. The dental implant process entails some minor surgeries and tests. On the first appointment, an x-ray scan is performed to help our dentist have a clear picture of where the dental implant will be placed. Anesthesia is always administered to help protect you from feeling any pain. You will then wait a couple of months for the bone to grow around the implant. Our dentist will then create a foundation for the new tooth once the dental implant is stable. The dentist will, after some time, make an artificial tooth that will be cemented to the foundation.
If you have plans of getting a dental implant and finding it difficult to distinguish between dental implants and mini implants, call Enamel General and Cosmetic Dentistry at 949-991-2499 today to learn more about the differences between them or to schedule an appointment.
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