Mini Dental Implants
in Princeton, NJ

Princeton Park Dental Associates
Dr. Eric Abrams

Mini dental implants can be a good option for patients looking to replace lost teeth without using conventional restorations. Some people prefer to avoid the invasive surgery required for conventional dental implants, while others do not have sufficient bone mass in their jaws to hold them securely.

Your dentist can replace missing teeth using bridges, dentures or dental implants. Bridges and dentures are false teeth that sit on the gum’s surface and do nothing to stimulate jawbone growth. Dental implants, on the other hand, are inserted into the jawbone so that they cannot be removed. Your dentist, periodontist or oral surgeon performs the surgical procedure to place a titanium post into your jawbone, where the bone fuses around the implant in about three to six months.

Once the implant is fused in your jawbone, we uncover the implant and attach a small post to act as an anchor for the artificial tooth.

Most patients prefer dental implants to dentures because they don’t shift or slip as dentures sometimes do, much to the embarrassment of the denture wearer. For the best results, you need sufficiently healthy bone in your jaw to act as a stable anchor for the dentures or restorations.

Mini dental implants share the same structure as regular implants, but they are smaller in size. Mini dental implants have a titanium post with a ball on the end and a socket that attaches the tooth to the post. According to the Journal of Oral Implantology, regular dental implants are 3.4 to 5.8 mm wide, but mini implants are just 1.8 to 3.3 mm wide. Mini dental implants support most types of replacement teeth. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, mini dental implants are also suitable for securing loose and lower-arch dentures.

Regular dental implants require several months and at least two visits to the dentist. Some people need additional visits for bone grafting to support the implant posts. Some patients cannot or will not tolerate invasive surgery and repeat dental appointments, or they have lost too much bone mass to secure full-sized implants, which is perfectly normal as we age. For these patients, mini dental implants may be the best option. Typically, dentists can install mini implants in one visit using local anesthesia and no sutures. With mini implants, you can use your new teeth the same day as your procedure.

Your mini dental implants need the same care as your own natural teeth. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss at the end of each day. If your gums are still sensitive after the dental implant procedure, use an extra-soft-bristled toothbrush.

Losing your natural teeth can be traumatic. It can ruin your self-confidence and your smile. With mini dental implants, you can speak and eat normally again without worrying about how missing teeth might affect your daily routine. Ask your dentist if mini dental implants are the right solution for you.

We welcome patients from Princeton and close-by areas.

(609) 303-5325
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dental implant taking photo of new implants