What Is a Mini Dental Implant?

This video introduces mini dental implants as a less invasive, cost-effective alternative to traditional implants. Learn how this modern approach offers faster results, less discomfort, and reliable outcomes for a wide range of patients.

A mini dental implant is often considered an alternative to the standard dental implant. In the traditional implant process, we would cut open the gums, place the implant into a prepared hole in the bone, and then suture the gums closed. After a healing period of about a year, we would reopen the gums to place the post and the crown or bridge.

Mini dental implants, on the other hand, do not require this type of surgery to insert the implant. There is no disruption of the blood supply to the bone, resulting in less pain, lower costs, and reduced treatment time—benefits that are highly valued in dental care. We have seen excellent success with mini dental implants.

Historically, since 1955, dental implants have maintained a success rate of approximately 95%, with a margin of error of about one percentage point. However, mini dental implants have now surpassed standard implants in terms of durability and long-term performance. As a result, we are using them more frequently in our practice.

We perform all types of restorations—crowns, bridges, and dentures. For patients who are traveling soon, such as those leaving for Europe the next day, we can place a mini dental implant and a temporary tooth on the same day. This means they do not have to travel with a gap in their smile.

We encounter these situations quite often. We always encourage patients to come in so we can assess their individual needs, provide an estimate, and discuss treatment plans and options. It is truly a pleasure to talk to patients about this innovative and effective treatment.