Dental Implants
Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.
Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural and some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.
Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by your dentist will help determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.
Tooth Implants
Problem
Missing teeth.
Solution
Dental implants are the most realistic tooth replacements available. Implants begin with a surgically placed post that is securely anchored into the jawbone. The bone surrounding the anchor will heal in approximately six months. With a completely solid and stable anchor point, an artificial tooth is then installed. The end result is a new artificial tooth that is virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth, both from an aesthetic and functional standpoint. In cases where several teeth are missing, dental implants can also act as the teeth to which bridges are fixed, again perfectly mimicking the function of healthy, natural teeth.
Alternatives
A bridge or partial dentures may also be considered.
Denture Stabilization Implants
How it Works
3M(TM) MDI mini dental implants are a minimally invasive treatment that can immediately stabilize loose dentures, eliminating the need for messy denture adhesives.
Why MDI Mini Dental Implants?
Even the best denture adhesives can't compare to the denture stability achieved with mini dental implants. 3Mâ„¢ MDI mini dental implants are designed to help denture wearers laugh, talk and live with comfort and confidence.
As the most popular small diameter implant system in America, 3Mâ„¢ MDI mini dental implants were developed to provide greater denture stability for those who:
- Can't withstand the rigors of full-size implant surgery
- Don't have enough bone to allow for full-sized implants to be placed
- Are seeking a more affordable dental implant option
How MDI Mini Dental Implants Work
The 3Mâ„¢ Mini Dental Implant (MDI) Denture Stabilization System consists of:
- A metal housings that is incorporated into the base of your denture.
- A rubber O-ring, housed in the metal housings, to provide the seal that locks the pieces into place.
- Mini titanium alloy dental implants, rooted into the jawbone, that act as an anchor to stabilize a lower denture.
The Mini Dental Implant Procedure
The mini dental implant procedure takes place in your dentist's office, with local anesthesia. Typically, the procedure takes only one appointment and can be completed within 2-hours!
Your dentist uses a precise and controlled technique to insert the small diameter implants (around 2 millimeters wide) into your jawbone.
- With heads that are shaped like a ball, the implants protrude from the gum tissue where they will provide a secure anchor for your dentures.
- Metal housings that carry a rubber O-ring will be inserted into the bottom of your dentures.
- When your dentist seats the dentures on the mini dental implants, the O-ring snaps over the ball like a socket and locks the dentures firmly into place as they gently rest on the gum tissue.
Implants are designed to help your dentures work like natural teeth, allowing easy and comfortable mobility for functions such as eating, talking and laughing.
The Results
Because of the minimally invasive nature of the mini dental implant procedure, the MDI placement won't require you to go through a lengthy healing period.
Within a few days, you'll be out and about, enjoying a lunch of your favorite foods, talking with ease, laughing and smiling freely. All that time, you're feeling a new stability in your dentures—secure that they have the staying power you need without messy denture adhesives or creams.