Brockley Dental Blog, Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

How Small-Diameter Dental Implants Make Restoring Your Smile Easier [Video Explanation]

Small-Diameter Dental Implants in Butler, PA | [Video Explanation]

Patients often hear from other dentists that they aren’t a good candidate for dental implants. In many cases, these patients are told they need to undergo extensive bone grafting surgery to qualify for implant treatment. But when they come to our office for a second opinion, they often find more options than they thought. At Brockley Dental Center, we use small-diameter dental implants. These titanium posts are much sleeker, fitting in less bone material and typically without the need for bone grafting. While not everyone is eligible for implant treatment, small-diameter implants make replacing teeth much more accessible. To find out if you qualify for implant treatment, book your initial consultation at our office in Butler, PA.

Small-Diameter Dental Implants

Traditional dental implants are typically between just over 3 mm and 8 mm in diameter. In contrast, small-diameter dental implants are anything 3mm or below!

To place traditional implants, we need to create a large osteotomy, or hole, in your bone. This opening needs to be about the width of the implant, making room for the screw to embed securely in your jawbone. However, not everyone has enough bone to support these titanium screws, as tooth loss causes jawbone loss over time.

Small-diameter implants require a much smaller osteotomy, as they have a significantly smaller diameter. In most cases, we simply make a small pilot hole in your jaw and through your gum tissue, avoiding the need for any incisions.

Additionally, the osteotomy is even a little smaller than the width of the implant, as these titanium posts are designed similarly to a self-tapping screw. Once we create an opening for the implant, we’ll gently screw it in, where the implant’s threads help embed it securely in your jaw. The small-diameter implant process is minimally invasive, resulting in faster healing and less post-operative discomfort.

In most cases, we find patients are eligible for smaller implant treatment without all the hassle.

You May Be a Candidate for Dental Implant Treatment!

Bone quality is only one aspect of candidacy for dental implant treatment. While it may be one of the most important aspects, there are other factors we need to consider.

Other factors that may impact your eligibility for dental implant treatment include:

  • Periodontal disease: Gum disease is an inflammatory infection that spreads underneath your gums and affects your jawbone. While early effects of this disease can be reversed, you cannot regrow lost bone tissue. To qualify for dental implants, we’ll need to get any signs of gum disease under control.
  • Small-Diameter Dental Implants in Butler, PA | [Video Explanation]Uncontrolled diabetes: When well managed, diabetes doesn’t disqualify you from implant treatment. However, uncontrolled diabetes can affect your ability to heal and raise infection risks. We’ll need to get your diabetes under control before proceeding with implant treatment.
  • Autoimmune disorders: Certain conditions, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, affect your ability to heal after oral surgery. Before proceeding with implant treatment, we’ll need to assess any risk of complications.
  • Radiation treatments: Radiation for cancer that focused on the jaw or head area may compromise bone healing capacity, even years afterward. We’ll need to determine the quality of your bone before dental implant placement.
  • Certain medications: Taking medications that suppress the immune system, using steroids, or taking long-term bisphosphonates to treat conditions like osteoporosis can affect bone quality and your ability to heal.
  • Smoking habits: Nicotine restricts blood flow to the gums and bone, which is essential for healing after implant placement. Smoking after dental implant treatment can slow down your healing process and increase the risk of implant failure.

While none of these conditions automatically make you ineligible for dental implants, they can affect your eligibility. During your initial consultation with us, we will discuss your candidacy and try to find a solution that fits your lifestyle and budget.

Find Out If Small-Diameter Dental Implants Are Right for You!

If you’ve been told you’re not a good candidate for dental implants, we encourage you to visit our office in Butler for a second opinion. There, we’ll be able to assess your bone quality and determine if small-diameter dental implants are the right choice for you! In most cases, we find patients are eligible for smaller implants without trouble. But there are always exceptions, and we’ll need to review your medical history to ensure we can place these implants safely. Book your consultation with our office to learn if you’re a good implant candidate.

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Donald B. Brockley, DMD

Dr. Brockley earned his doctorate degree in Dental Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine in 1972. He is a second generation dentist and a legacy of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine where his father, Dr. Charles R. Brockley earned his doctorate in general dentistry in the year 1927. While attending the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, he held the office of Class Secretary for his graduating class. Following dental school, he chose to do his residency training at Wilmington Medical Center in Wilmington, Delaware, with a focus on research. Upon completing his residency, Dr. Brockley enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War Era as a Naval Officer. Dr. Brockley opened his own private practice 1975 in Butler, PA a historic town just 34 miles north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dr. Brockley held the office of President of the Butler County Dental Society. After many years of practice, Dr. Brockley realized that fear is the #1 reason why people do not visit their dentist regularly. Therefore, he made it his mission to find an alternative way to practice (and to help his patients overcome this fear). This alternative was through Sedation Dentistry. In 1996 he became trained in Conscious Oral Sedation. This technique allowed him to treat fearful patients by gently putting them to sleep with the aid of a pill, not needle IV sedation which was the popular treatment at that time. Dr. Brockley received his dental training at the following institutions: University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA University of North Carolina, School of Dentistry, Raleigh, NC Mini Dental Implant Training Centre, Buffalo, NY. Due to the high number of patients who are diabetic in his practice, his next goal was to understand the impact of Diabetes in Dentistry. Due to the subset of Diabetic patients in his practice who had similar recurring oral and systemic health problems, special attention became warranted. This led to a different standard of care and treatment for patients whose health was compromised by diabetes. Early detection, observation, evaluation and treatment to eradicate infection plays a major role in maintaining oral health for diabetic patients. Poorly managed treatment for diabetic patients has been shown to lead to a higher risk of uncontrolled gum disease and vice versa, making prevention of gum disease the #1 priority for this subset of patients. Dr. Brockley’s research on dentistry for diabetics led him to his next specialization: the treatment and eradication of gum disease. His aim has been to change the the treatment of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. For this reason, he designed a radically different protocol to the Soft Tissue Management (STM) program. STM treats the symptoms of gum disease, and more importantly, the underlying cause of gum disease, bacteria. Studies have shown that gum disease affects 80% of American adults. However, Dr. Brockley has observed that more than 90% of his baby boomer patients have gum disease. His unique STM protocol has shown significant success within his patient population. With patient knowledge, understanding, and cooperation, Dr. Brockley is able to arrest and manage gum disease in his practice. After perfecting his procedures for crowns, bridges, partials and dentures to replace missing teeth, the introduction of Small Diameter Implants (also known as SDI or Mini Dental Implants) into his practice has revolutionized the way Dr. Brockley practices cosmetic dentistry. Small Diameter Implants provide the possibility of full mouth restoration, multiple teeth restoration, or single tooth restoration. Small Diameter Implants can be implemented in all types of tooth and bone conditions, in all ages, and in all types of health conditions. Dr. Brockley uses Small Diameter Implants to restore chewing ability and create beautiful smiles, which ultimately changes peoples’ lives. Dr. Brockley is the proud owner and operator of the first Mini Dental Implant Center of America in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Dr. Brockley has achieved Diplomate status in the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants. He is the President Emeritus of the Butler County Dental Society. Dr. Brockley was also a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps. He is a a lifetime member of the Delta Sigma Dental Fraternity, and he was the Class Secretary for the University of Pittsburgh Dental School. Dr. Brockley likes to spend time with his family at home or while traveling, has been an avid scuba diver since 1980, and describes himself as a “just okay” golfer.

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