ZMK • Juli/August 2014
Mini dental implants? Sure!
Especially in atrophied mandibles, where conventional diameter implants meet their limits, mini dental implants can be a sensible solution.
This is also true in patients, where an invasive procedure can pose medical risks. Thanks to the diameters of mini dental implants, which are less than
3 mm, cases where the mandible is very thin, the MDIs can be placed with a minimal invasive procedure that often does not require bone augmentation.
The most common indication for the mini dental implants in our practice is for the stabilization of the full denture in the lower jaw. Edentulism is a disability that may even result in the higher mortality of the patient. A prosthesis, which is solely supported by the gingival tissue does not provide an adequate replacement of the missing dentition: especially in the case of the atrophied jaw where the retention is especially low. This compromised situation can result in the avoidance of social situations as well as malnutrition due to food restrictions. Through implant therapy, it is possible to stabilize the prosthesis and thus substantially increase the patient’s quality of life.
Unfortunately, a conventional implant therapy does not come into question for many patients. Especially with senior citizens with medical risk factors there would be large concerns about a heavy surgical procedure where a bone augmentation might be required. Additionally the cost factor plays a large role with many patients. Here mini dental implants offer a cost effective and minimal invasive alternative that is acceptable for many patients.
