Mini Implants. Are you using them? If so, when and where?

Wed, 05/05/2010 - 06:30 — Mental Foramen

Ok, I have noticed another big push in advertising regarding mini-dental implants. Used to be just Sterngold and IMTEC. Now I am seeing Implant Direct, OCO, Intra-Lock, and more jump in the mini-implant game. So, the companies want us to use minis. Is anyone here using them? If so, when and where? The only time I have used minis if for temp denture stabilization while bigger permanent implants heal. I have not used minis for definitive restorations. Anyone using minis for definitive restorations? The only time I can fathom doing this is if there is minimal inter-root distance. If minis are being done to avoid bone grafting, I hate that! We are surgeons! If bone is needed, grow the bone! Don't cheat the patient by using a mini because you don't want to grow bone. I can understand using them if the patient wants an implant and absolutely refuses a bone graft. Then again, you are bowing to the patient and allowing them to influence your better judgement. I understand that we all have to pay the rent...

Comments

Wed, 05/05/2010 - 06:41 — Smith

Many mini-implant courses

There are many mini-implant courses available. Many are now teaching to use the mini implants for a permanent solution. Flapless. Painless. Fast. That is what they are telling us.

I am a general dentist. I do not have a ton of surgery experience, but they make the mini implants seem so easy. I have placed a couple of straight forward implants, but I must admit that I am thinking about trying the mini implants. They just seem so simple compared to regular implants. Why wouldn't you use them? If the FDA has approved them for long term use, what is the problem?

Wed, 05/05/2010 - 11:16 — Benjamin Oppenh...

Mini Implant Courses

I have been placing and lecturing on Mini Implants and minimally invasive implant dentistry for 7 years. One of the big problems with mini implants is the lack of scientific evidence relating to their use. I have found over 80 Pub Med Results relating to restorative use of mini implants. Also, a textbook on minis is planning to be released by Blackwell authored by Victor I. Sendax DDS, the inventor of the Imtec MDI. As we accumulate more data on the long term use of MDIs we will develop very specific protocols and uses based on science. When that happens, I will be educating based on that science. Until then, you can be sure that when you attend my courses, I use all the science available today plus my personal experience of placing thousands of implants, to drive the lecture information. Most of what I discuss in my new course: MDI Level 2 - Appropriate Applications Beyond Lower Dentures, is based on implant dentistry as a whole and how minis can predictably fit into implant dentisty. please visit http://www.learnimplantdentistry.com for more info.

Thanks,

Ben

Wed, 05/05/2010 - 15:26 — johndds

Mini Implants

I have been using Minis. I like the results.

http://freedenture.com/

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 05:04 — Logan MD DMD

Mini implants for lower denture retention

I only use mini implants for mini denture retention. I place 4 or 5 of them and the reline the denture with zest attachments.

Other then that I will use them for temp implants thats it.

Wed, 05/19/2010 - 12:21 — zivmazor

Mini Implants

I have started to do mini's in 1997.At that time they were considered as transitional implants.
I use mini implants for the following indications:
1)Denture retention- I use the Atlas system by Dentatus.
2)For temporary bridges after graft placement-I mostly use 1.8 and 2.2mm in diameter by Dentatus.
3) for long term use in cases of narrow spacing or narrow ridges.

I have published an article on long term use of narrow diameter implants in 2004 in Implant dentistry with a 5 year follow up.

Sun, 05/23/2010 - 23:00 — alandoland

Seems that some take a

Seems that some take a weekend course and then try to do very advanced cases. For example, one of the General Dentists in my area recently started placing his own implants. He took a couple of short courses and jumped in head first. Next thing you know, he had stuck an implant into the mesial loop of mental nerve. The sad thing was that he did not even know what the mesial loop was. This resulted in a lawsuit which he, of course, lost. After shelling out some serious cash, he is now referring his implants once again.

Wed, 05/26/2010 - 06:21 — Tom House DDS MD

Mini Implants by Intra Lock: Great for dentures

I started using a Mini implant system about a month ago. I use stricly for denture support. They are very easy to place and my older patient population loves them. Some of them can chew steak again.

Tom

Wed, 09/01/2010 - 04:54 — Dr Chace Heatly

Mini implants: I use OCO but only in select cases

I use mini implants only for:
1)Denture retention in complete denture cases, usually 4 in the mandible and 6 in the maxilla
2)as temporary implants awaiting final implant healing.
3) for long term use in cases of narrow spacing or narrow ridge

Fri, 06/17/2011 - 00:28 — arleziana

implants

Since implants are the closest thing to a real root and provide great results , most dentists should know at least the basics about implants. And it is always good to insert smaller foreign object into natural tissue so many cosmetic dentists Beverly Hills use these mini implants.