Brockley Dental Blog, Dental Bridges, Dental Crowns, Dental Implants, Dentures, Mini Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

Types of Dental Implants in Butler, PA [Video Overview]

Types of Dental Implants [Video Overview] Mini Implant | Butler, PA

Dental implants are titanium screws that we use to restore your missing teeth. By embedding implants inside your jaw, we replace your missing tooth roots. And thanks to their biocompatible titanium design, dental implants will integrate with your jaw over time, forming a stable connection. Then, using that connection as a strong foundation, we anchor restorations to your implants and replace your missing teeth! However, there are many different types of dental implants. To learn which implant is best for your smile, we recommend booking a consultation at Brockley Dental Center. Here in Butler, PA, we provide quality care using innovative dental implants that restore your smile.

Types of Dental Implants

In general, there are two types of dental implants. Traditional implants are larger and multi-piece. Mini dental implants are smaller and have a one-piece design.

While both implants serve the common goal of replacing your missing teeth, the differences between them have a significant impact on your procedure, costs, and eligibility.

Traditional Implants Mini Implants
Procedure To place traditional dental implants, we use a surgical procedure. However, because these implants have multiple components, this process occurs over several appointments. After a few months of healing, your implants will be strong enough to support a restoration. To place mini dental implants, we use a minimally invasive procedure. This process takes only one appointment and allows for faster healing and less post-operative discomfort. Typically, we can secure a temporary (or, in some cases, final) restoration immediately after implant placement.
Costs Traditional dental implants involve multiple appointments and components, which raises their price. Additionally, most patients require bone grafting beforehand, which increases your procedural costs and duration. Mini dental implants have a one-piece design that only requires one procedural appointment. Not only does their sleek design save you money, but it also allows most patients to restore their smile without the need for bone grafting.
Eligibility Traditional dental implants need ample bone structure for support. Unfortunately, most patients lack the necessary bone, making them ineligible for traditional implant treatment without a bone graft. Mini dental implants have a small diameter, allowing them to fit inside minimal bone without issue. In most cases, patients are eligible for mini implants, even without a bone grafting procedure.

At Brockley Dental Center, we typically use mini dental implants for our patients. While traditional implants do have their uses, we find that most patients are eligible for mini implants and benefit from their simple procedure.

Discover the Mini Dental Implant Difference

Thanks to their sleek design, mini dental implants offer several advantages over their traditional counterparts. These include:

  • Minimally invasive procedure: To place mini implants, we will first numb your smile with a local anesthetic. Then, we’ll make a small pinhole in your jaw through your gums. This hole allows the mini implant to screw inside your jaw, where it immediately begins stabilizing. And, thanks to the gentle implant placement process, patients typically experience less discomfort while healing.
  • Faster healing time: In general, mini dental implants take a few weeks to fully stabilize in your jaw. But while you wait, you can enjoy a temporary (but functional) restoration the same day we place your implants. Then, rather than waiting months for your implants to support a final crown, bridge, or denture, you can enjoy a final prosthetic in less than a month.
  • Immediate loading capabilities: Immediate loading refers to putting a restoration on your implant immediately after placement. Traditional implants come in separate pieces, which makes immediate loading more difficult. Fortunately, mini implants are single-piece implants that initiate integration immediately after placement. In most cases, patients find that immediate loading helps accelerate healing and improves their implant experience.
  • More affordable costs: With fewer components and appointments to pay for, mini implants are significantly less expensive than traditional implants. And, because they allow most patients to skip bone grafts, mini implants help save time and money.

Review the Types of Dental Implants in Butler, PA

While there are several types of dental implants, traditional and mini implants are some of the most common. At Brockley Dental Center, we use mini dental implants to restore your smile. These small titanium posts make for an easier procedure and recovery. To learn if you’re eligible for mini dental implants, book an initial consultation in Butler, PA.

Follow Brockley Dental Center on Facebook and Instagram to explore our implant-supported restoration options.

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *