English 
Spanish When replacing all of your teeth, you have many denture options to choose from. Traditional dentures are a popular method for tooth replacement, but unfortunately, they have many drawbacks. Their main issue is instability, as lower dentures use the structure of your lower jawbone for support. Without the roots of your teeth meant to stimulate your jawbone when you chew, your jawbone will lose mass and volume.
As your jawbone shrinks over time, your denture stays the same, often resulting in ill-fitting dentures. Loose dentures create various problems, as their instability negatively affects a patient’s quality of life! Issues like gum irritation, denture sores, and difficulty eating are all too common for those with traditional dentures. Thankfully, Dr. Aristodemo at Happy Smiles Family Dentistry offers implant-retained dentures! Using mini dental implants, she can provide a more comfortable and secure alternative for patients like you to keep your smile happy and healthy!
The Dental Implant Difference
Dental implants are titanium posts Dr. Aristodemo secures into the jawbone to support restorations like dentures. At Happy Smiles Family Dentistry, Dr. Aristodemo offers two types of implants.
Conventional dental implants are around 5 mm in diameter and require a surgical procedure for her to place. First, she must make an incision in the gums to access your jawbone underneath. Then, using a series of drills that increase in size, Dr. Aristodemo creates a hole in your bone that is big enough to fit the implant. Unfortunately, as the hole is quite large, not all patients are eligible for this procedure. Those who lack sufficient bone density often need a bone graft to qualify, rebuilding their jawbone structure.
Additionally, conventional dental implants have a multi-piece design, requiring various appointments for Dr. Aristodemo to place them. The whole process generally takes around 3-6 months, as the implant needs time to bond to your jawbone. Once your implant is ready, she will secure your final denture to provide an incredibly stable and beautiful smile!
The other implant is a mini dental implant, which differs from conventional implants in many important ways. Mini dental implants are less than 3 mm in diameter but just as secure! Instead of making an incision or using stitches, Dr. Aristodemo uses a minimally invasive procedure that preserves the surrounding tissues for faster healing. To place mini implants, she makes a small pilot hole through the gums and into the jawbone. After carefully screwing the implant in place, it becomes instantly stable enough to support a temporary—or in some cases final—restoration!
The Advantage of Mini Dental Implants
Due to their small diameter and one-piece design, mini implants have many amazing benefits. These advantages include:
- Smaller diameter: Because their diameter is smaller than that of conventional implants, mini implants require less bone and disturb less of the surrounding tissues. This not only saves you time on your procedure but also money—as you likely won’t need a bone graft.
- Fewer components: The one-piece design of mini implants allows Dr. Arostodemo to place them in just one appointment! Additionally, it reduces your risk of peri-implantitis—or an infection of the area surrounding an implant—as your implant doesn’t have seams where bacteria can gather.
- Less expensive: Due to their one-piece design and smaller diameter, these implants are much more affordable than conventional implants! The one-piece design means you have to pay for fewer components and appointments! Additionally, their smaller diameter allows Dr. Aristodemo to place these implants using less bone structure so that you won’t require additional procedures like bone grafts.
Denture Options With Mini Dental Implants
Dr. Aristodemo provides several denture options using mini dental implants. These implant dentures include:
- Snap-in dentures: This restoration is the most similar to traditional dentures, as you can remove it anytime. However, the 4-8 mini implants that secure a snap-in denture make it much more secure! With mini implants keeping your denture in place, Dr. Aristodemo can remove the bulky upper denture plate and ensure security and comfort.
- Semi-permanent roundhouse bridge: Though in the denture family, this restoration is technically a bridge as it doesn’t need the pink denture base. While we can use the base for lip support, the 6-10 mini implants that secure it provide a strong enough anchor for your artificial teeth! While you never take the semi-permanent roundhouse bridge out, Dr. Aristdemo will remove it for routine cleanings.
- Permanent roundhouse bridge: This denture is supported by 10-12 mini implants that permanently secure it in your mouth. Additionally, it doesn’t require a denture base, making it look seamless in your mouth. For an incredibly strong bite and natural-looking appearance, a permanent roundhouse bridge is the denture option for you!
For Secure and Comfortable Denture Options: Visit Happy Smiles Family Dentistry
While there are many denture options to choose from when restoring your smile, implant-retained dentures provide the best security. At Happy Smiles Family Dentistry, Dr. Aristodemo offers two types of dental implants to secure your dentures. While conventional implants are stable and strong, mini implants provide that same stability without the hassle. Dr. Aristodemo recommends mini dental implants for most patients because of their incredible benefits!
Book a free implant consultation today with Dr. Aristodemo to discover what mini implants can do for you.
Connect with Happy Smiles Family Dentistry on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the denture options available to you!
