Losing your natural teeth can be a disheartening experience because your smile is so associated with your self confidence and your appearance. One of the most effective ways to restore that confidence after you lose a few teeth is to get mini dental implants. These smaller dental implants are ideal for patients who want an implant surgery option that is not as invasive as traditional dental implants. To better understand if mini dental implants are right for you, it is a good idea to get to know some of the more common reasons dentists recommend this treatment to specific patients.

Mini dental implants are often recommended for the replacement of a single tooth. 

If you lose just one tooth, either due to decay or damage, the effects on your smile, the way you speak, or even how well you can chew can be severe. Mini implants are often recommended for patients who are only missing a few teeth because these implants are not as large at the insertion point, which means there is less of a concern of the abutment causing disruption to the other healthy teeth still in place during the procedure. So if you have lost one of your teeth or perhaps just a few, mini dental implants could be the best option. 

Mini implants can be used to hold lower arch dentures in place. 

Dentures are a decent replacement option if you have lost all of your teeth, but many patients experience trouble with keeping the dentures securely in place, especially the lower arch dentures. Mini implant procedures are often used in these situations to provide a patient with a basic structure in the gumline to which the dentures can attach or snap in place so they are held secure. If you have issues with slipping dentures, make sure you ask a dentist if mini dental implants could help. 

Mini implants are a typical followup option when traditional implants fail. 

Traditional implants are larger, requiring much more binding to properly fuse for a secure setting. In some cases, patients who seem to be good candidates for dental implants see the implants not succeed, even after bone grafts. If this is an issue you are facing, your dentist may recommend mini dental implants as an alternative. Mini dental implants do not require the same amount of bone for fusion, and the surgery to have the implants placed is much less invasive.