Mini Dental Implants
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to our Patient Resource Center. For a downloadable
version of the Patients Guide to Mini Dental Implants
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Frequently Asked Questions
What
Are Mini Dental Implants?
 The MDI ( Mini Dental Implant ) 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 leve of force.
When seated,
the denture gently rests on the gum tissue. The implant fixtures allow for
micro-mobility while
withstanding natural lifting forces. To discuss getting mini dental implants in the Indianapolis or Shelbyville, IN area, please feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment.
Late
in l997, Dr. Sendax collaborated
about his mini dental implant theory and
design concepts with a colleague,
Dr. Ronald A. Bulard. Dr. Bulard
had previously formed a dental implant
company, IMTEC Corporation, which
was at the time manufacturing and
marketing standard sized dental
implants, abutments, and other dental
products. Convinced they were on
to something special, the two implantologists
spent countless hours studying and
refining Dr. Sendax's original creative
design, resulting in a more efficient
top and collar to the mini dental
implants. Combining this now re-designed
mini dental implant with Dr. Sendax's original
insertion protocol resulted in a
successful breakthrough. Under
Dr. Bulard's direction, IMTEC Corporation
began the rather complex and expensive
design and manufacturing procedures
which ultimately resulted in what
is now offered to the dental community
under the brand name IMTEC Sendax
M D I (mini dental implant). The
innovative system and procedure
was thereafter formally introduced
to the United States dental community
at an implant conference in Orlando,
Florida in April, l999. It was an
instant success and now represents
one of the fastest growing segments
of the dental product industry.
Is
the Mini Dental Implant FDA approved?
Yes.
Prior to his preliminary discussions
with Dr. Bulard, Dr. Sendax had submitted
a formal application to the FDA in Washington, DC seeking
permission to market the mini dental
implant devices to the general public.
After providing satisfactory technical
and clinical evidence to that agency
that the product was safe for public
use and in fact had beneficial attributes,
the FDA granted its formal consent
to market the Mini Dental Implant
device not only as a transitional
or temporary dental product, but significantly,
as a long-term item. ( IMTEC was the
first company to receive long-term
approval of its MDI implants from
the FDA, and for several years, was
the only company to have that distinction.)
As stated, IMTEC's introduction of
the Mini Dental Implant to the dental
industry and appropriate marketing
efforts under a license granted by
Dr. Sendax followed the FDA's consent to market.
When
can Mini Dental Implants be used?
When
critically needed for support purposes,
and where solid bony adaptation (integration)
has clearly occurred, mini implants
can function as long-term supporting
structures rather than as short-term
or medium term devices. In fact, some
have been successfully functioning
in patients' jaws for several decades.
In the past several years, some clinicians
have been utilizing MDI's for single
tooth replacements and in crown and
bridge cases..
What's
the primary and most effective use for Mini Dental Implants?
 The
most effective use of this unique
dental product is stabilization of
a lower denture. There are approximately
50,000,000 people in the United States
who are "edentulous" (literally
meaning lacking teeth) who struggle
daily with prosthetic devices. A majority
suffer a great deal of discomfort
as a result of loose or ill-fitting
dentures. Many denture wearers simply
withdraw from any type of social engagement
as a result of being compelled to
wear them. Moreover, it's not uncommon
for family members to complain about
a denture wearer's disagreeable breath
as a result of food being trapped
and decaying under their denture prosthesis.
Successful placement of the Mini Dental
Implant addresses and solves all of
these social and practical problems.
Denture patients all over the world
have experienced relief from loose
or ill-fitting dentures from doctors
who are trained to place the MDI.
Uniquely, the MDI can be utilized
to stablilize a denture in a couple
of hours by a trained doctor, with
the patient leaving the clinic with
a stabilized prosthesis.
How
specifically can Mini Dental Implants help denture wearers?
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 procedure
that can be performed by a general
dentist, requiring only a mild anesthesia.
The mini dental implants, which are
approximately the size of wooden toothpicks,
are placed about five millimeters
apart in the patient's mandible. 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. Because of
the unique, minimally invasive procedure,
the minute size of the implants, and
the characteristic placement area,
the typical Mini Dental Implant patient
can enjoy a light meal an hour or
so after having the mini implants
placed. Further, a denture patient
who has had his or her prosthesis
stabilized with MDI can remove and
replace the denture easily after a
little practice, and can easily utilize
good dental hygiene. All in all, the
MDI is quite satisfying.
I'm
somewhat aware of the tremendous forces the human jaw usually endures
during normal chewing of food. How can these tiny Mini Dental Implants
withstand that?
It's
true that what the dental profession calls occlusal forces create dynamic
pressures on the human jaw. Our jaws are marvelously designed to adequately
withstand those forces. It's also true that mankind has been struggling
for centuries to come up with some type of metal or metallic element
that can efficiently withstand those forces. Most have been outright
failures. However, approximately twenty-five years ago some doctors
around the world began experimenting with titanium as a potential dental
medium. Titanium is an extremely strong metal used in the construction
of aircraft and aircraft engines. The metal, in its commercial form,
is incredibly strong and durable. The Sendax Mini Dental Implants takes
that metallurgical concept to the next level by adapting an industry
approved alloy of titanium. The result is the strongest metal on earth,
now commonly referred to as titanium alloy. In fact, extensive tests
conducted several years ago by the University of Alabama-Birmingham
School of Orthopedics at Dr. Sendax's behest revealed that the particular
titanium alloy implants used in the IMTEC Sendax Mini Dental Implants
are 64% stronger than ones constructed of commercially pure titanium.
The bottom line of this discussion area is simple: If a denture patient
has sufficient bone mass to create a rock hard placement of the tiny
implant, which an experienced dentist can usually determine by an initial
examination, the mini dental implants will generally withstand normal
chewing forces just like natural teeth. Fractures are extremely rare,
but as the case with a person's normal teeth, can certainly occur.
You've
told us about the diameter of the Mini Dental Implants. How long are
they?
IMTEC
Corporation manufactures and sells the Mini Dental Implants in four
lengths, l0, l3, l5 & l8 mm's. One trained in dental science will
recognize instantly that these lengths appropriately anticipate the
type of depths that are needed in a wide variety of prospective Mini
Dental Implant patients. The company also manufactures what it calls
the Mini Dental Implant MAX that's sold in l0, l3 & l5 mm's. The
use of the MAX is explained in the next question.
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