Are you Suited for Mini Implants?

Dental patients with missing teeth may not know the options available for filling in the gaps in their smiles.  While dentures and conventional dental implants are a popular treatment choice, you have an alternative with mini dental implants, also known as MDIs or Narrow Body Implants.  These prosthetics provide benefits for smile improvement and make treatment flexible for qualifying patients.

What are Mini Implants?

Mini implants are made from the same titanium alloy material as conventional implants but are smaller and narrower in size.  While conventional implants are around 3 mm in diameter, MDIs are about half that and just as sturdy.  The solid, one-piece design can prevent the need for a bone graft in some cases, and the procedure is less invasive than conventional implants.  Typically, the process for placing mini implants takes one to two hours under a local anesthetic and has a full recovery time of only a few days.

How Can You Tell if You are a Good Candidate for Mini Implants?

Mini implants aren’t right for everyone, but if you are a patient in need of multiple implants, have degenerative bone that won’t allow for traditional implants or need to secure dentures in place, minis may be the fit for you. Some patients are better suited for the conventional implants but benefit from having a mini implant installed as a temporary fix.  The most significant benefit of minis over conventional implants is the cost; MDIs are often a fraction of the price of traditional implants.

When Conventional Implants Might be a Better Fit

Conventional implants and dentures either can be a better alternative to mini implants depending on your circumstances.  Full-sized implants have a larger surface area, making them more stable, but do require certain bone volume levels for integration.  Conventional implants also consist of separate pieces that are added in phases.  If you suffer from teeth grinding, mini implants are generally not recommended, as the grinding can wear down the implants prematurely.

In the end, one implant is not definitively better than another. Making a decision on what will work for you involves examining your unique health concerns and factors that contribute to implant success.

Dr. Okamoto and his staff want to make sure you know and are comfortable with all the options available to you when it comes to restoration with dental implants.  If you have questions about dental implants, call the helpful staff at Drs. Steven and Michelle Okamoto’s office today!

The Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry with Prosthodontics

There are several ways to improve the appearance of teeth without the use of prosthetics (replacement teeth), such as whitening, adding tooth-colored composite material, or manually shaping teeth so they appear more even and balanced.

However, dental prosthetics are particularly effective at giving you a brand new smile and boosting your oral health in the event that you have complex dental needs. In many cases, cosmetic dental treatment with prosthodontics is essential in targeting problems areas and helping patients achieve the look they want. At the Torrance, CA dental office of Drs. Steven and Michele Okamoto, we are skilled in cosmetically and functionally restoring smiles with prosthetics.

What are Dental Prosthetics?

A dental prosthetic is intended to replace a natural tooth, tissue, or part of tooth enamel and can include crowns, bridges, and veneers.  As a Prosthodontist, one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the ADA, Dr. Steven Okamoto has the expertise to restore teeth for ideal cosmetic effect using any number of dental prosthesis.

Prosthodontics and Cosmetic Dentistry

Dental prosthetics help effectively target cosmetic dental problems that include:

Damaged Teeth – Decayed or broken dental enamel can be removed and replaced with a beautiful porcelain dental crown, or even a veneer, depending on your needs and the extent of damage to teeth, so that your smile looks healthy.

Misshapen Teeth – Teeth that are too-small or that are jagged or pointed stand out in your smile for the wrong reasons. By shaping teeth and applying a natural-looking prosthetic, like a veneer, problem teeth can become a seamless compliment to the rest of your smile.

Missing Teeth – A missing tooth in your smile poses significant cosmetic and functional issues, but patients have many options for treatment with the help of prosthetics. Choices like partial dentures, fixed bridges, and dental implants can all replace missing teeth and give the effect of a cosmetically beautiful smile.

Smile restorations with prosthetics help patients achieve stunning smiles and renewed oral health, especially in the event that your needs are complex. At Steven K. Okamoto, DDS, Inc., we can give your smile a cosmetic boost with a number of effective and long-lasting prosthetics, such as porcelain crowns, veneers, fixed dental bridges, and implant-supported replacement teeth.

For more information on cosmetic restorations with prosthetics, contact our office for your consultation.

Why You May Need a Bone Graft before Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants provide an ideal solution to missing teeth. With implants, patients get new teeth that behave and look like natural teeth, from roots to crown. However, in order for implants to be strong and improve your oral health, some pre-treatments may be necessary. It’s not uncommon for patients to require a bone graft before implants can be placed. Here’s why:

Prolonged Lack of Natural Teeth

When you’re missing teeth for an extended period of time, jaw bone density in that area will begin to lessen. Your natural tooth roots simulate bone health, but when they’re gone, bone slowly grows weaker. Bone grafts help to build up quality bone in this area, so implants can be placed at the site of missing teeth and act as sturdy anchors for prosthetics like crowns, bridges and dentures.

Stronger Osseointegration

Implants are as strong as they are because bone is naturally compatible with titanium, the material from which implants posts are created. When implants are placed, the posts begin to bond and merge with bone, just like a real tooth. If you have poor bone quality, or thin bone density, there is less supporting tissue for implants to bond with. Bone grafts are sometimes necessary to ensure proper integration.

Longevity of Treatment Results

Implants placed accurately into dense bone, and which are allowed to integrate properly, prove to be long-lasting replacements for missing teeth. With a bone graft, implant dentistry can support life-long and high-functioning replacements for lost or extracted teeth.

Only a dentist can determine if a bone graft is necessary before you can receive dental implants. At our Torrance dental office, Dr. Okamoto performs comprehensive exams to ensure that your smile is healthy enough for dental implants. If a bone graft is necessary, we have an on-site surgical suite and can perform your pre-implant bone graft in our office. Contact Dr. Steven Okamoto for more information about how bone grafting benefits successful implant treatment.