Today, plenty of people may have experienced tooth loss and may not know how easy it is to replace them. Dental offices provide you with a wide range of dental implants and other methods to replace the missing tooth. If you have a missing tooth, you should not neglect this problem, because it can cause numerous problems: from teeth shifting to stomach problems. In this article, we want to introduce you to the difference between traditional implants and mini dental implants.

1. Dental implants

Dental implants are one of the most popular methods to fill the gaps. Implants will improve your smile and give you more self-confidence. They replace the natural root by inserting a titanium screw into your jawbone. After surgery, your jawbone needs time to heal, and after that, you will have a perfect smile. This cosmetic surgery can save not only your health but money too: without at least one tooth you increase your risk of gum disease. Gum disease is a ramp to serious health problems. 

Advantages of dental implants:

• Appearance improves
• Speech improve
• Easier to eat
• Improved self-esteem
• Convenience 
• Bettered oral health 
• Durability

Dental implants have a very good success rate; around 95 percent. If you have appropriate oral health, they can last you more than 15 years. In most cases, people who have good health can be considered for a dental implant. But smokers and people who have uncontrolled chronic disorders like diabetes should make an appointment with a dentist to know if they are a good candidate for dental implants. As dental implants are cosmetic surgery, it is not covered by insurance. This procedure costs from $1500 to $6000 per tooth.

2. Mini dental implants

Mini dental implants have the same structure as common implants, but they are smaller and less painful to install. Its diameter is less than 3 millimeters. Such an implant consists of two parts: titanium post and socket. You should use mini dental implants if you do not have enough bone mass. If you do not have enough bone mass, you need a graft. This graft needs  up to a year to heal. 

Advantages of mini dental implants: 

• You do not require bone grafts
• Less pain during installation
• Less discomfort
• You do not require complicated flap surgery 
• The tooth replacement procedure Is less invasive
• More convenient
• Ensures no facial collapse
• Minimal complications
• They are affordable

Mini dental implants should be a good alternative for those people who have small teeth, the jaw bone is lost, or if you want a tooth replacement in narrow spaces. But some conditions need an additional dental appointment to understand if you are a good candidate for mini dental implants, like diabetics, smokers, and people who have a small vertical jaw bone. This procedure costs from $500 to $1500 per tooth.

3. The difference between them

• If you have bone loss, then you can not use common dental implants, you should use a mini version of them. 
• Mini dental implants are smaller than a regular version, so they are used in most cases for smaller teeth. 
• As mini dental implants are smaller, surgical procedures are less invasive.
• Regular implants cost more than their mini version.
• Sometimes it needs two mini implants to provide support, unlike if you used traditional implants you would only need one. 

The bottom line

All in all, if you have problems with teeth, you should not neglect this fact and contact your dentist. The dental clinic will give you more information and they will decide what type of implants you need and what fits you best.