Mini implants are thin implant posts that can be placed in the jaw in a 30-minute procedure. Placing four mini implants to anchor a denture takes about an hour. Dentists can attend weekend-long courses held by implant manufacturers to learn how to place mini implants, but some professionals don’t think the short training is enough. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry supports more extensive training for mini implants, as is required for traditional implant dentists. Former AAID President Dr. Kim Gowey states that dentists should be “well versed in implant dentistry before using mini implants,” in an article at www.marketwatch.com. She goes on to explain that there aren’t shortcuts for learning how to properly place implants, whether traditional or mini. Knowledge of techniques and the healing process are essential for an implant dentist, according to Gowey.
Mini implants require a less invasive procedure than traditional implant surgery, thus the implant site heals faster. Mini implants are also less expensive than traditional implants. According to a report in Compendium Dental Journal (February 2008), mini implants have a 95% overall success rate. However, current AAID President Dr. Jamie Lozada says that for an implant to be placed an extraction site, a traditional implant is best. The force a single crown incurs with daily biting and chewing may be too much for a mini dental implant to support. Dr. Olivia Palmer, and AAID fellow from South Carolina, says the pressure could negatively impact the bone to cause bone deterioration and failure of the implant. However, for dentures, mini implants work well as stabilizers, according to Lozada.
The AAID offers a respected and well-known credentialing program that provides significant training and information for dentists who want to place traditional or mini implants. MaxiCourses® are held at universities in the United States and abroad. They include more than 300 hours of instruction, lab, lecture, and surgical demonstrations, as well as “home/office” assignments. In most cases, MaxiCourses are held over 10 months, with one onsite meeting per month. The end of the course includes the written AAID Associate Fellow Membership Examination. Learn more about the AAID and MaxiCourses a this website: www.aaid.com.