Mini-implants are widely utilized along with standard diameter implants in implant dentistry. One of the areas of their application is orthodontics. What are mini-implants? And what kind of therapeutic tasks do they help orthodontists to solve?
Mini-implants – screw titanium implants are very small in size, so they are called micro implants as well. They are, like traditional implants, placed in the jaw bone, but for a different purpose. Mini-implants are needed not to support crowns and dentures, but as orthodontic anchorage to achieve predictable tooth movement. How are they placed and used? Before placing implants it is necessary to perform surface treatment of the oral mucosa at the surgical site by special painkillers available in a gel form, therefore local anesthesia is used for 5-15 minutes.
Mini-implants are screwed directly into the jaw bone through punctures made in the mucosa. The upper portion of the implant, its head, protrudes from the gum line. Mini-implants require threads to be attached to them in order to move or hold teeth in desired position, if you need orthodontic correction. Placed correctly a mini-implant can support removable or conditionally removable bridges as well.
Thus, mini-implants provide a solid fixation for prosthetic restorations or orthodontic anchorage for alignment of teeth. Orthodontic mini implants perform their function only for a few months. They are not designed for a long-term service, therefore there should not be too much loading on these implants. They also, like all types of implants, have a special coating, a titanium base and screw threads. There some indications and contraindications for mini-implant placement.
The indications are as follows:
– there is no possibility to place a standard implant;
– there is a need for a temporary basis to attach the removable prosthesis;
– to provide prosthetic treatment for fully edentulous patients;
The contraindications are as follows:
– health problems caused by drug addiction, smoking and alcoholism;
– oncological diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease.
The benefits of using mini-implants: their cost is much less than conventional implants, they are placed in a shorter amount of time, actually in one office visit (on average, the entire procedure takes about 1.5 to 3 hours). Also it is necessary to mention that mini-implants provide a reliable fixation for prosthetic restorations, make it possible to avoid bone augmentation procedures. As only one surgery is required, there is a lower risk of complications. They do not require any particular care.
The specialists of the company Bio3 Implants recommend orthodontic mini-implants, as they are a best option to eliminate the defects of dentofacial system with the minimum dental treatment, i.e. incisions, stitches, swelling and pain after their placement are absent during and after their placement. Successful long-term outcomes of orthodontic implant treatment brings patient only positive emotions.