Dental implant treatment may sound scary, especially to those who are afraid of oral surgery. But with minimally invasive dental implants, you can enjoy the benefits of implant treatment without the hassle of a traditional implant procedure! This gentle treatment replaces missing teeth with a much less complex procedure, helping you feel less anxious during the process and heal faster afterward. At Sonora Dentist, we offer minimally invasive implants for patients who want to avoid lengthy procedures. However, not everyone is eligible for minimally invasive treatment. To learn if you’re a good candidate for minimally invasive implants, book a free implant consultation with us today!
What Does It Mean To Be Minimally Invasive?
Minimally invasive dentistry simply means causing as little damage as possible.
When placing traditional dental implants, an incision is made in your gums to access your jaw. Then, an opening is drilled into the bone, big enough to fit the implant body. Once that’s in place, you’ll need to wait a few months for the implant to integrate with your bone. Once the implant is stable enough, a final crown, bridge, or denture will be attached to the implant using an abutment.
This process, while effective, is invasive and takes several months to complete. By drilling a large opening in your jaw, a large portion of your bone structure is removed. Removing bone increases the necessary healing time after your procedure and makes it more difficult for frail patients to withstand implant treatment.
In contrast, minimally invasive dentistry avoids using incisions or drilling large holes. To place these implants, we simply create a small pilot hole through your gums and into your jaw. Then, we place the implant in one appointment, where it immediately begins to stabilize.
Thanks to the much gentler procedure, we preserve most of your gum and bone tissue. Patients who undergo minimally invasive dental implant treatment generally have an easier time healing. In fact, most patients only need a few weeks of recovery before their implant can support a final restoration.
It’s important to note that minimally invasive does not mean less effective. There is a certain stigma around minimally invasive treatments that suggests they cut corners or are less trustworthy. At our office, that is simply not the case. We use minimally invasive treatments to reduce discomfort, improve aesthetic outcomes, and even save you time and money!
Are You a Candidate for Minimally Invasive Dental Implants?
In many cases, minimally invasive dental implants are the ideal treatment for those with missing teeth. However, not everyone is eligible for minimally invasive treatment. Certain patients may actually need traditional dental implants.
At Sonora Dental, we use mini dental implants to perform minimally invasive dental implant treatment. These titanium posts are smaller than traditional implants and only have one component. While this unique design offers many benefits for patients, not everyone can enjoy them. Factors that may influence your eligibility for mini implants include:
Your jawbone: After losing teeth, we tend to lose bone structure in our jaws. If you’ve lost enough bone, you may no longer be eligible for dental implants! Fortunately, mini implants fit in less bone, often solving this problem for patients. But if your bone is soft, mini implants may not be the right solution for you.- Your smoking habits: In general, smoking is bad for dental implants as it impacts their ability to integrate with your jaw. Over time, smoking can potentially cause implant failure down the line.
- Your missing teeth: Depending on where your missing teeth are, mini implants may not be the best choice. Mini implants work great for teeth in the front of your smile. But when replacing molars, you may need a thicker implant.
- Your health: Your health plays a big role in your ability to heal. For those with issues like uncontrolled diabetes or advanced gum disease, implant treatment may be impossible until those conditions are improved.
In most cases, we find that patients in Sonora, CA, are good candidates for minimally invasive dental implants. During your free implant consultation with us, we will assess these factors and determine which implant is best for your smile, free of charge!
Visit Sonora Dental To Learn Which Implants Are Right for You!
If you’re nervous about traditional implant treatment, we don’t blame you. But at Sonora Dentist, we offer minimally invasive dental implant treatment that makes the implant procedure less of a hassle! Using mini dental implants, we restore your smile in a single appointment without incisions or stitches. And while some patients may not be eligible for mini implants, we find that most patients are. Book a free consultation with us to learn if you’re a good candidate for minimally invasive dental implants.
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