I lost some front teeth about ten years ago, which were replaced with a bridge. The teeth which were holding the bridge (next to the lost teeth on either side) have now become loose. My dentist is suggesting dental implants. They’re pretty pricey. I saw an article about mini-implants. He says they’re not suited for what I need. Is that right or is he just saying that because he’d make more money the other way. I’d understand on my back teeth because they’re used for chewing all the time. But, aren’t the front teeth just for show? I wanted affordable implants.
Candace.
Our front teeth aren’t just for show, though they are one of the first things people notice about us. We use them in eating all the time. While our back teeth do most of the chewing and move in a grinding motion, our front teeth tear and pull at things. The front teeth tear off the food which we then use our back teeth to chew.
The motion of pulling, combined with the pressure from the bridge could have been a large factor in those teeth coming loose.
Good Uses for a Mini-Implant
Your dentist was being honest with you about the proper use for a mini-implant. While some dentists call them affordable dental implants, they can’t replace them in most situations. Instead, they’re mostly used to help secure a denture when a full set of implant overdentures is quite out of someone’s budget.
Their best use is to help discourage bone loss after the extractions, by tricking your body into thinking there are still teeth roots there. However, they cannot support a single crown, especially in a case like yours with front teeth. As you can see from the picture above, they’re much smaller in diameter.
Cheap versus Affordable Dental Implants
Let’s say you decide to stick with the idea of mini-implants and either talk your dentist into it or go to another dentist who cares less about your long-term consequences. You may get a few years out of them, but that’s about it.
After that, they’ll need to be replaced. However, you’ll also have to have some bone grafting done to build back up the bone lost when you have to remove the mini implants. That’s two additional procedures every few years. Yes, the mini implants are cheaper, but they’re definitely not more affordable.
Instead, I’m going to recommend you get three full-sized dental implants secured with a bridge. You’ll put an implant on each of the adjacent teeth which are coming loose and then another third implant in the middle to help securely anchor the bridge. Done well, this could last your lifetime, depending on your age.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.