The Mini Dental Implant in Fixed and Removable Prosthetics: A Review
Dental implant treatment can restore oral function to edentulous patients. Recently, mini implants have been shown to be successful in minimally invasive treatment. There are initial reports of mini implants retaining removable prostheses and supporting fixed partial and complete dentures. This article reviews the treatment of edentulous patients with prostheses and mini implants and offers guidelines for successful outcomes.
Figure 1 . Mini implants can retain a maxillary removable complete denture (Dr Todd Shatkin). Figure 2. Four mini implants that retain a removable complete mandibular denture. Figure 3. Intaglios with retainers in place to retain maxillary and mandibular removable complete dentures (Dr Todd Shatkin). Figure 4. Panoramic radiograph of maxillary and mandibular mini implants that retain removable complete dentures (Dr Todd Shatkin).
Figure 5 . Radiograph of 4 mini implants supporting a fixed splinted prosthesis. Figure 6. Splinted fixed prosthesis supported by 4 mini implants 3 years after surgery. Figure 7. A radiograph of a single mini implant that supports a single crown. Figure 8. Single crown supported by a single mini implant. Figure 9. Radiograph of 3 implants, a standard external Hex 4.1-mm diameter implant (far left) with bone loss to the first thread, a 3-mm mini implant with slight bone loss (far right), and a 1.8-mm mini implant with no apparent radiographic bone loss (center).
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