Introduction
Dr. Lemay is committed to educate denture wearers and their
families and friends about the great benefits of mini-implants
because through the years he has seen mini-implants drastically
improve people's lives, to include his own mother. She was the
first patient he placed mini-implants with, and she has been
eating happily now for over seven years!
Please review our Mini Implant page which may answer some general
questions you might have about Mini-implants. Dr. Lemay is available
to answer your specific questions by scheduling a consultation
appointment.
Are you considering Dentures?
Are you facing the prospect of having dentures? Do you have
trouble eating? Are you embarrassed about how your teeth look?
Are dentures your only option? If you are thinking about getting
dentures, make sure you know the facts, to make an informed
decision. More people wear dentures than you would think. With
the right denture and look, you cannot tell them apart from
people with real teeth. The majority of people over the age
of 65 wear full dentures. The main causes of tooth loss that
necessitate dentures are gum disease and tooth decay.
The decision to move to dentures is usually driven by pain,
money, and/or fear. It is a very difficult decision to make
and is made more difficult when you hear horror stories from
denture wearers. In the best case scenario, it is always best
to try to save your original teeth if financially and medically
possible. The decision to get dentures should not be made because
it will be less expensive, or "easier" to maintain.
Sometimes, patients believe that getting dentures will solve
all their dental problems, and save lots of money in the long
run. This is surely not the case. No matter how good the denture
is, and how stable it can be, dentures will never be the same
as having your original teeth. However, at least now there is
a method available to make dentures more comfortable than ever.
To make things as comfortable for you as possible, we offer
oral conscious sedation when teeth are removed. In this way
we can guarantee a pleasant experience.
Many people delay getting dentures because they worry about
what they will look like if they get dentures. A denture done
right will satisfy the most discerning eye and satisfy everyone.
Do you currently have dentures?
Are your dentures loose? Do they constantly shift and move?
Are you tired of using adhesives to try to hold them into
place? Are you unable to eat what you want, when you want?
Do you have constant sore spots, and have trouble talking?
Are you losing weight and having digestive problems?
Mini-implants are a reliable and affordable solution to restore
your quality of life by securing your dentures so that you
are able to enjoy the foods you love and feel comfortable
and confident about your smile. Be able to eat what you want,
and when you want it again with confidence.
What do Mini-implants look like, and how do they work?
Mini implants hold dentures in place by attaching the lower
denture to the heads of titanium implant screws. In many cases,
these mini screw implants can be placed and the denture snapped
into place during the same appointment. Please see the below
diagram.
What can I expect when obtaining mini-implants?
Following are a few things to expect when inquiring or deciding
to move forward with mini-implants:
Consultation with Dr. Lemay to include x-ray and treatment
planning
Scheduling of extractions (if applicable) and/or mini-implant
placement
Impressions for dentures
Try-in appointments
Final delivery
Why do mini implants?
There is no surgery involved in placing mini-implants! The
implant is placed directly into the jawbone, and the procedure
takes less than an hour and placing the implant involves minimum
trauma.
Mini implants are able to hold the lower denture securely,
even with their smaller size. Mini-implants require less bone
due to their small diameter than conventional implants for
attachment, so more people can have them. In some cases, the
denture can be attached the same day the implants are placed.
Price is not determined by how many implants you receive.
Dr. Lemay will place as many or as few needed to secure the
denture.
In some instances, for current denture wearers, the old denture
can be retrofitted for the mini-implants.
The mini-implant is much more affordable than conventional
implants and you will not have to wait six months to use them.
Frequently asked Questions
What are mini-implants?
A mini-implant is a miniature titanium implant with a round
head that is placed into your jaw, which acts like the root
of your tooth and has a retaining fixture that is incorporated
into the base of your denture, The head of the implant is
shaped like a ball and the retaining fixture acts like a socket
that contains a rubber O-ring. An o-ring is placed into your
denture to snap your denture securely in place. The O-ring
snaps over the ball when the denture is seated and holds the
denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated, the
denture gently rests on the gum tissue. The implant fixtures
allow for micro-mobility while withstanding natural lifting
forces.
Can you give me a quick estimate over the phone?
Many people call our office and want to get a quick estimate
over the phone for mini-implants. That is impossible to do
for many reasons. First, each patient's needs are so very
different. Some need extractions, some don't. Some extractions
are surgical, others are simple. Bone needs to be added at
the extraction site, so we need to know exactly how many extractions
there will be. Some patients only need partials, others need
full dentures. Some patients want to have their teeth pulled
and have dentures, when their teeth can be saved, avoiding
dentures. Without seeing everyone's individual mouth, to see
the existing condition, and without an x-ray showing the amount
of bone available, providing a "guesstimate" is
not possible.
How are mini-implants placed?
Mini-implant placement is accomplished quickly and easily
in a procedure performed in our office with just Novocain
or if you prefer, we can use oral conscious sedation to help
make you more comfortable. A small hole is placed in your
gum and the mini-implants are gently screwed into the bone.
The heads of the implants protrude from the gum tissue and
provide a strong, solid foundation that your denture will
actually SNAP tightly on to and secure itself.
What are the benefits of the mini-implants?
A simple, easy, quick procedure gives incredible security
to your lower denture at a cost that is affordable to everyone.
There are approximately 50,000,000 people in the United States
who are "edentulous" (literally meaning lacking
teeth) who struggle daily with prosthetic devices. A majority
suffer a great deal of discomfort as a result of lose or ill-fitting
dentures. Many denture wearers simply withdraw from any type
of social engagement as a result of being compelled to wear
them. Moreover, it's not uncommon for family members to complain
about a denture wearer's disagreeable breath as a result of
food being trapped and decaying under their denture prosthesis.
Successful placement of the Mini Dental Implant addresses
and solves all of these social and practical problems.
Am I a candidate for mini-implants?
The ideal candidate is in good general and oral health. The
best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of
periodontal disease since the mini-implants are intimately
connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the
mouth. Unless you have had radiation to your jaw, you are
probably a good candidate. Individuals with uncontrolled diabetes
are poor candidates. We have successfully placed implants
in people that have lost nearly all of their lower jaw bone.
Mini-implants are ideal for a patient whose bone density is
lacking.
How successful are the mini-implants?
In my practice, I have had a 98% success rate for the lower
jaw and 70% to 80% for the upper jaw. That means that only
a small percentage will have to be removed. It must be recognized
that all implant systems as well as natural teeth are subject
to potential failure due to natural causes, including osteoporosis,
poor oral hygiene, wear and tear attrition, poor health, heavy,
stressful biting habits, and lack of follow-up dental maintenance
care. Mini implants similarly do not carry any actual or implied
guarantee as to longevity. However, the loss of a Mini Dental
Implant is a far less critical event to the patient since
it may be replaced at relatively minimal cost compared to
conventional implants, and with minimal associated bone or
gum deterioration.
Will I experience pain in placing the mini-implants?
Placing Mini-implants is a simple one-step procedure. We do
not have to cut open the gum or perform any surgery, therefore
no sutures are necessary. Oral conscious sedation is available
for the nervous patient to help calm nerves, but you will
most likely leave our office with no pain at all.
It may not hurt placing the implants, but what kind of pain
will I experience afterwards?
This is a very broad question with no easy answer for everyone!
Some patients are able to go home and resume all normal activities
without taking any medication. Some patients experience slight
discomfort which is taken care of with ibuprofen. Someone
who is very pain intolerant may require something stronger.
The majority of my patients only require ibuprofen, if anything.
Every patient heals differently, allowing for different experiences.
There may be a chance of slight swelling or bruising, but
not for all patients.
Are the mini-implants FDA approved for long term use?
Yes. A formal application to the FDA in Washington, DC seeking
permission to market the mini dental implant devices to the
general public was submitted. After providing satisfactory
technical and clinical evidence to that agency that the product
was safe for public use and in fact had beneficial attributes,
the FDA granted its formal consent to market the Mini Dental
Implant device not only as a transitional or temporary dental
product, but significantly, as a long-term item.
What problems can occur with mini implants?
As mini-implants are so small in diameter, it possible that
they can break while being placed, or afterwards. If one breaks,
we simply put another next to the one that broke. Some of
the implants get loose and have to be removed and replaced,
but that percentage is very low.
Can mini implants be placed on the upper jaw?
For most people, the upper denture is usually more secure
than the lower denture. The mini-implants are far more successful
in the dense lower jaw than in the hollow bone of the upper
jaw, especially with the proximity of the sinus cavity. Normally,
more extensive procedures may be required to place upper implants
(bone grafting, etc...). The bone on the upper is just not
as dense as the bone in the lower jaw.
What kind of maintenance is there with mini-dental implants?
Many patients think that once they have implants and dentures,
there dental follow up is complete. This could not be further
from the truth! You have just made an investment in your mouth,
and maintenance is required. Implants are acting as your teeth,
and need to be cleaned by your dentist/hygienist on a periodic
basis. Calculus can accumulate around the implants if not
maintained properly, just as with real teeth, and failure
to maintain them can lead to implant failure. Patients are
normally scheduled for cleanings every three to four months
to ensure proper cleaning of the implants, dentures and gum
tissue. A special brush is provided to every patient to help
clean around the implants for home care. This brush must be
changed periodically.
During the hygiene visits, your implants will be monitored,
as well as the health of your gums and the fit of the denture.
The o-rings will get loose and will need to be replaced because
they do wear out. The more often that you remove and replace
your dentures the more frequently you will need to come in
to the office and have the o-rings replaced. You have made
an investment with your implants and dentures. Routine office
visits will help you to get the best return on your investment.
Think of it this way. If you buy a new car, just because it
is new does not mean that you never need to have an oil change
again. You still need to do maintenance on the vehicle. Implants
and dentures are the same. They still need after attention
after the purchase.
Visit the IMTEC site for more
information on Mini Dental Implants!
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