Mini Dental Implants (MDI) FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are mini dental implants?
How can mini dental implants help denture wearers?
How are mini dental implants placed?
Is the mini dental implant approved by the FDA?
Are mini dental implants expensive?
What are mini dental implants?
Mini dental implants are individual titanium posts that are used to stabilize or provide a more secure fit for a denture. The MDI System consists of a miniature titanium implant that acts like the root of your tooth and a retaining fixture that is incorporated into the base of your denture, The head of the implant is shaped like a ball and the retaining fixture acts like a socket that contains a rubber O-ring. The O-ring snaps over the ball when the denture is seated and holds the denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated, the denture gently rests on the gum tissue.
How can mini dental implants help denture wearers?
Denture wearers often have difficulty feeling confident that their denture will firmly stay in place in their mouth without becoming loose or floating. For patients that are having this difficulty, MDI will give you a sensation that you can eat and speak confidently as if you had your natural teeth. This is especially helpful for the lower denture.
How are mini dental implants placed?
The standard insertion protocol for mini dental implants calls for four of them to be gently screwed into the front of a patient's lower jaw. This is a relatively painless non-invasive procedure that can be performed by a general dentist. The mini dental implants, which are approximately the size of wooden toothpicks, are placed about five millimeters apart in the patient's lower jaw bone. The patient's denture is then carefully adjusted by the dentist to allow it to snap onto the four mini implants. The result? A tight fitting, completely reliable system that allows a patient to speak and eat with confidence. The Mini Dental Implants are placed in about an hour's time.
Is the mini dental implant approved by the FDA?
Yes, the Food and Drug Administration approved Mini Dental Implants for the long term stabilization of a denture in 2003. MDI had been used for over 20 years by dentists, and after providing satisfactory technical and clinical evidence to the FDA that the product was safe for public use and in fact had beneficial attributes, the FDA granted its formal consent to use the product for long term treatment.
Are mini dental implants expensive?
Traditional dental implant systems can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 depending on the system that is used. The MDI System will generally cost 50%-70% less. Contact one of the affiliated practices that offer MDI and learn more about their fees.
