Mini vs Traditional Dental Implants What’s the Difference

Comparing implant options can be difficult when the terms sound similar. In this video, Dr. Regan Ackerman explains the size and design differences she discusses with patients considering mini dental implants.

One of the biggest questions I get asked during a consultation is what are the differences between a conventional or surgical implant and the mini dental implant? Obvious number one answer is that the mini dental implant is just a smaller diameter implant, which makes it a lot less invasive, usually less healing time, can be a lot less costly than the surgical implant, and fewer appointments.

That’s also because it’s what we call a one-piece implant, where what we call the abutment, the part that kind of sticks out of the gum that we use to either snap the denture on or put your tooth on is built into the mini implant, also known as a one-piece implant. When we place the implant, I can use that abutment the same day to either put your temporary crown on or stabilize the denture.

So the mini implant’s a lot less invasive because it’s a smaller diameter implant than the surgical implant, which also makes people more candidates for the mini dental implants because I don’t have to have as much bone to place the implant.

The two biggest differences are that it’s a smaller diameter implant and it’s a one-piece implant with the abutment built in, which makes it less invasive and less healing time.

If you’re interested in learning more about mini and traditional dental implants, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Regan Ackerman at Freedom Dental Implants in Louisville, Kentucky. We look forward to giving you the freedom to smile.