I saw yet another patient with a failed full arch of “mini” dental implants seeking a better solution. The level of risk for very small-diameter implants appears to be substantially higher than standard implants and they fail with increasing frequency over time.
1) Normal bite force is 42-1245 N and an average/ biting force of 720 N. Mini implants claim a strength of only 150, (range 69-160 N) Hence their strength is Too Low to function predictably.
2) Long-term “mini” dental implants may stand up to the forces in the very front of the mouth, and yet mini implants have 21% of the average strength applied by teeth.
3) An independent dental research group found that 20 N would cause a mini implant to bend, substantially less than the minimum force on teeth and much less than standard implants can withstand.
4) Young men apply 3/4ths of their maximum biting force 325 times a day. Materials will fail sooner with repeated/cyclic forces which cause material fatigue This fatigue occurs over the years and when patients grind or clench their teeth.
5) Implant failure occurs more often in the back of the mouth because of greater force and less dense bone. Mini implants lack the diameter to withstand these forces since they don’t spread the forces over enough bone.
6) When a full set of implants is placed, there is limited nerve feedback telling the brain to control the force on the implanted teeth as well. Studies show a greater force on implants than on teeth. Standard implants will withstand the maximum biting forces.
7) Biting forces from tooth grinding or clenching are of great concern. On a 1-10 scale this bruxism/clenching is a risk factor of 10. The short-term result is an increasing implant failure rate over from use, bruxism/clenching, bone overload, or fracture of the “mini” implants.
8) Research shows a substandard percentage success in the short term: In a 2005 study 1029 mini implants had an average 13.6% failure rate. A well-known mini-implant lecturer noted that more failures occurred in the upper jaw with 17% failure under a full upper denture.
9) Another prominent mini-implant lecturer recommended using 2 mini implants rather than 1 standard implant when recommending them to patients. So mini implants lack the cost effectiveness they claim to have.
10) Patients’ expect that the significant investment of time, energy, and money in implant dentistry will pay off. Dental implants have a predictable long-term outlook. There are too few studies to justify the widespread application of mini-implants.
Suppose you are missing teeth or need teeth removed. In that case, I invite you to 1) visit us, 2) discuss with us what your expectations are, 3) have a thorough examination, 4)review which choices are most predictable in your specific situation and 5) learn about your options.
Dental Blog | Sun City West, AZ | Solutions Dental Implants Check out our dental blog for the latest in dental technology, research and treatments. Visit Solutions Dental Implants in Sun City West, AZ! Solutions Dental Implants, 13920 West Camino Del Sol, Suite 11, Sun City West, AZ 85375-4438 ~ (480) 956-6113 ~ solutionsdentalimplants.com ~ 11/1/2024 ~ Tags: dental implants, all on 4 dental implants, teeth in a day, dental crowns, bone grafting, implant supported dentures, implant dentistry, pain free dental implants, tooth replacement, extraction, gum surgery, sedation dentistry