Mini Vs. Standard Implants - What Is the Difference?

Mini implants have the same structure and shape as conventional dental implants. Both are formed like a screw and made of pure titanium or titanium alloy. The primary difference between the two implants is their size. Regular dental implants range in width from 3mm to 6mm and length from 7mm to 15mm, depending on the lost tooth's location and other considerations. Mini implants, on the other hand, are significantly narrower and smaller, measuring 1.8-2.5mm in diameter and 12-18mm in length.

Another difference is that traditional implants are made up of two parts: the implant itself and the abutment that joins the fake tooth. Mini dental implants, on the other hand, are often sold in a single piece with a specific ball-shaped end that protrudes from the bone and is used to attach a removable denture. While the single-piece design of tiny implants may be useful in some circumstances, it is not ideal for supporting many missing teeth or a permanent hybrid prosthesis.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved both implant kinds, although for distinct purposes. Standard dental implants can be used for practically every type of tooth replacement, including single, missing, and whole tooth replacement, as long as there is enough jawbone to support the implants. Mini dental implants, in contrast, are typically utilized for the following purposes:
- To support a temporary bridge or denture while the tooth extraction site heals;
- When there is insufficient jawbone available to support standard implants, bone grafting is either not recommended or prohibitively expensive;
- According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, micro implants can also be used to stabilize lower dentures;
- Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADS) are a form of Mini dental implant that is used in orthodontics to move rotated or improperly positioned teeth.

Why Are Standard Implants Better for Tooth Replacement Than Mini Dental Implants?
To understand why conventional implants are preferable, we must first grasp how dental implants function. An implant is implanted into the jawbone and functions as a substitute root. Osseointegration is the process by which dental implants induce bone development around them over time.

As a result, they become firmly fixed in the bone tissue and may support any prosthesis attached to them, such as a crown, bridge, or dentures for tooth replacement. As a result, the longer an implant is embedded in the jawbone, the more solidly it will become. Let's take a look at the numerous drawbacks of small dental implants versus conventional implants.
- Mini implants provide less support than normal implants since they are narrower in diameter. As a result, micro implants are not ideal for restoring lost teeth or supporting back teeth subjected to high biting forces;
- Mini-implants are more likely to fail because their smaller size prevents them from supporting larger dental loads. As a result, they provide a greater risk of triggering prosthesis or implant failure;
- Difficult oral hygiene maintenance. In many circumstances, a considerably larger prosthesis is used to cover the tiny micro implants. This scenario increases food impaction around the prosthesis, which can lead to a variety of problems, including peri-implantitis and implant failure;
- More micro implants required. Because of their smaller diameter, two or more micro implants may be required to support the same prosthesis as a single conventional implant, resulting in additional surgical procedures and a longer healing time;
- Less chewing efficiency. Unlike mini-dental implants, traditional implants can support crowns or dentures with a bigger biting area;
- Mini-implants support dentures via rubber O-rings that engage with the implants' ball-shaped protrusion. Over time, these rings become loose, and the prosthesis no longer fits. As a result, the small implants require regular O-ring replacements, which is inconvenient for patients, particularly the elderly.

Which Implant Kind Should I Choose?
Your periodontist or dentist is the best person to advise you on the type of implant that best meets your needs. If you want a long-term smile repair solution that will allow you to eat and speak normally again, you should look into traditional dental implants. In general, typical standard dental implants provide greater prosthetic flexibility than mini-dental implants.