Mini Dental Implants in Foley, AL

When you’re young, losing a tooth is a memorable event. You tuck it under your pillow, wait for the tooth fairy, and know a new one will soon take its place. But as an adult, losing a tooth is a different story. There’s no tooth coming to replace it, and the gap can impact your smile, confidence, and ability to eat comfortably. Unfortunately, tooth loss is a common issue caused by decay, disease, genetics, injury, or other factors.

The good news is that there are several ways to replace missing teeth, such as traditional bridges and dentures. However, dental implants are the only option that restores the entire tooth structure, from root to crown, providing unmatched stability. At Riviera Dental Care, we offer conventional and mini dental implants. While both are effective tooth replacement methods, mini implants offer unique advantages that make them ideal for many patients.

Understanding Mini Dental Implants

Dental implants are titanium posts that we place in the jawbone to support restorations like crowns, bridges, or dentures. They provide a secure, natural-looking solution that feels and functions like real teeth. Unlike other tooth replacement options, implants don’t just restore the visible part of your smile—they also replace the tooth root, helping to maintain jawbone health and prevent bone loss.

Tooth roots lie below the gums and are embedded in the jawbone. These roots keep your teeth secure and stimulate your jawbone to maintain its strength. Without stimulation from the roots, your jawbone begins to deteriorate and change shape! Fortunately, dental implants replace your whole tooth, down to the roots! As a result, they help to maintain long-term bone health while completing your smile.

Mini Implants vs. Traditional Implants

Mini Dental Implants in Foley, AL | Riviera Dental Care

Mini dental implants are one solid titanium post less than 3 millimeters in diameter. These implants are small, so they allow us to use a minimally invasive procedure without incisions or sutures.

Thanks to their threaded design and minimal impact on surrounding tissue, mini implants are stable enough to support restorations immediately after placement. They also fuse with the jawbone faster than traditional implants. This process, called osseointegration, is what gives dental implants their long-term stability.

Traditional dental implants, in contrast, are 3 millimeters wide or larger and have multiple pieces. To place the implant, we make an incision in the gums. Then, we make a hole in your bone using a series of drills increasing in size. After carefully screwing the implant body into your jawbone, we stitch your gums back up and wait for osseointegration to occur. This process takes about 3-6 months. During this time, you wear a temporary restoration to maintain the look and function of your smile. Once you’ve healed fully, we place the second piece of the implant, allow the gums to heal, and then secure your final restoration.

The Mini Dental Implant Process

The first step to getting mini dental implants at Riviera Dental Care is a free implant consultation. During this visit, we’ll perform a thorough oral exam, take a 3D scan of your teeth and jaw, and discuss your goals. Whether you need to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or an entire arch, we’ll design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

We also understand that dental anxiety can prevent some patients from getting the care they need. That’s why we offer patient-centered solutions, such as sedation dentistry for a stress-free experience and L-PRF therapy to promote faster, more comfortable healing. If you’re interested in these treatment complements, we can discuss them at your consultation.

To place a mini implant, we use a gentle technique that doesn’t require incisions or stitches. To keep you comfortable, we first numb the treatment area with a local anesthetic. Then, we create a small pilot hole in the gum and jawbone before carefully screwing the implant into place. Thanks to their unique design, mini implants allow us to attach a temporary restoration immediately.

After about a month of healing, we will place your final restoration on your implants. The procedure is painless, efficient, and can be completed in just one appointment—giving you a restored smile faster than traditional implants.

The Mini Implant Difference

Mini implants offer unique benefits that make them the ideal implant option for many patients, including:

  • Smaller diameter: Traditional implants require sufficient jawbone space, which can be a challenge for those with bone loss. Mini implants have a smaller diameter and need far less bone, making them ideal for patients with low jaw density, including those who are frail or aging. With mini implants, more patients than ever can access advanced tooth replacement options that improve comfort, function, and quality of life.
  • Minimally invasive placement: Due to their size, we can place mini implants without incisions, promoting faster healing with minimal discomfort! In most cases, patients simply use over-the-counter medicine to manage soreness.
  • Instant stability: Mini dental implants have “immediate loading potential.” This means we can place a temporary restoration on your implants on the same day! With mini dental implants, you never have to go without teeth—even while you heal.
  • One-piece design: Traditional implants have a multi-piece design, which adds to the procedure’s cost. In contrast, mini implants are a single piece, lowering both costs and the risk of peri-implantitis. This infection can occur when bacteria accumulate in the seams between implant components. The bacteria buildup can irritate and inflame the surrounding tissue, potentially causing the implant to fail. The one-piece design of mini implants reduces this risk.
  • Less expensive option: Mini implants are more cost-effective than traditional implants because they have fewer pieces, use a more straightforward procedure, and require fewer dental visits.

We offer mini implants because of these incredible benefits! As a Mini Dental Implant Center of America (MDICA), Riviera Dental Care is part of a qualified network of dentists specializing in mini implants. Our membership in this prestigious group reflects our ongoing commitment to innovative, patient-focused care.

Replace Your Teeth the Gentle Way!

As an adult, losing even one tooth can be concerning, but you don’t have to live with gaps in your smile! At Riviera Dental Care, we offer dental implants to replace the tooth and its root, keeping your smile stable and your jawbone healthy. Mini dental implants are a great option for many patients because they require less bone while providing a more efficient, gentle, and affordable solution.

If you’re ready to restore your smile, trust our experienced team at Riviera Dental Care. Schedule a free implant consultation today to see if mini dental implants are right for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Mini dental implants are crafted from durable titanium, ensuring long-lasting stability for your restoration. This highly biocompatible material effectively integrates with the bone to create a secure foundation. With proper care, these implants can last for many years—or even a lifetime.

Just like natural teeth, mini implants require good oral hygiene to maintain their condition. Brushing, flossing, and keeping up with routine checkups at Riviera Dental Care will help keep your implant and restoration in great shape for years to come.

Yes! We often use mini dental implants to replace front teeth. Because of their smaller size and minimally invasive procedure, they’re an excellent choice for replacing teeth in areas with limited space. During your consultation, we’ll take digital X-rays to assess your bone structure and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Since your front teeth are the most visible when you smile, they play a big role in how you look and feel. Fortunately, with a mini implant, we can replace a missing front tooth in a single appointment! Our advanced CEREC technology allows us to create custom crowns on-site, ensuring efficient tooth replacement even for front teeth. If you’re missing a front tooth, we encourage you to contact us to see if you’re eligible for this innovative procedure.

In most cases, patients using mini dental implants don’t need bone grafts! Because they’re smaller in diameter than traditional implants, they need less bone to stay secure. This makes them a great option for patients who have experienced bone loss and want to avoid additional procedures. However, after a tooth extraction, we may place bone grafting material around your implant to facilitate faster healing and provide better results.

Of course, every patient is different, so we’ll take detailed 3D scans during your free implant consultation to determine if mini implants are the right fit for you!

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