 Patient’s
Guide to Dentures and Mini Dental Implants
 What Are Lock Tight Dentures?
Lock Tight Dentures are a unique denture support system that uses
Mini Dental Implants (MDI) to support a complete denture. They can
be used on upper or lower dentures, allowing your denture to lock
tight into place. This means a lower denture that no longer moves
around, or an upper denture that doesn’t cover the palate, which can
eliminate gagging problems.
 What Are Mini Dental Implants?
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.
The implant fixtures allow for micro-mobility while withstanding
natural lifting forces.
Is the Mini Dental Implant FDA approved?
Yes. 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.
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 lose 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 stabilize a denture in a couple of hours
by Dr. Moorhead, with the patient leaving the clinic with a
stabilized prosthesis..
How specifically can Lock-Tight Dentures with 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 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.
What about failures with Mini Dental Implants?
It must be recognized that all implant systems as well as natural
teeth are subject to potential failure due to natural causes,
including osteoporosis, poor oral hygiene, wear and tear attrition,
poor health, heavy, stressful biting habits, and lack of follow-up
dental maintenance care. Mini implants similarly do not carry any
actual or implied guarantee as to longevity. However, the loss of a
Mini Dental Implant is a far less critical event to the patient
since it may be replaced at relatively minimal cost compared to
conventional implants, and with minimal associated bone or gum
deterioration.
How are Mini Dental Implants different?
As a revolutionary departure from routine dental implant methods,
Mini Dental Implants are so narrow they are typically inserted
directly through the overlying gum tissue and into the bone
underneath. Consequently the need to surgically cut and "flap" open
the gum tissue, routinely required for standard implant systems, is
avoided in most Mini Dental Implant applications. As a result,
post-insertion patient irritation and soreness is significantly
reduced. While all dental implants require care during insertion to
avoid encroaching on vulnerable nerve, sinus or bony structures, the
ultra small width of the mini implants offers a much more
comfortable margin of safety.
What type surgery is involved with Mini Dental Implants?
A single procedure is needed for insertion of the Mini Dental
Implants. The implants are then put into immediate biting or
"loading" function thanks to their "self-tapping" design, thereby
anchoring a fixed bridge system. As a result, it is often possible
to provide the complete mini implant service in a single office
visit. Mini dental implants clearly represent an enormous
breakthrough for the dental implant specialty as the most
patient-friendly, cost-effective, proven dental implant system
available today.
What will my first day be like with Mini Dental Implants?
Leave the denture in place until bedtime. You should not experience
any excessive bleeding. There will be some mild discomfort but this
should be minimal and controlled by recommended pain medication. The
denture should feel secure. You may eat as soon as you wish to avoid
excessively hard or sticky foods at first. Upon removing the
denture, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash and carefully
clean around each implant fixture with a cotton swab and toothpaste.
Use a cotton swab for three days. After that, use your ACCESS
toothbrush. It has been specially designed to clean your implants
and gently stimulate the surrounding gum tissue.
How do I place & remove my Lock-Tight dentures?
The Mini Dental Implants and O-ring fixture must be clean and free
from debris. Grasp the denture with both hands and lightly seat the
denture, feeling that the O-rings are resting above the ball head of
the implants, then press down firmly and equally on both sides. Make
sure that you feel the implant heads easily fitting each O-ring. You
will feel the denture snap into place. If you have trouble seating
your denture, first make sure the implants and your denture are
absolutely clean. Secondly, make sure that you push downward equally
on both sides. If you are still experiencing difficulty, see if a
family member can give you assistance. To remove the denture, place
your thumbs under each side of the lower denture rim and gently push
both sides upward at the same time.
What's a typical daily routine one might expect once the Mini Dental
Implants have been placed?
As with all dental applications, there's a short adjustment period
during which time you become comfortable placing and removing the
denture. Typically, this involves removal of the lower denture in
the morning, brushing the gums and implant area with an ACCESS
curved bristle toothbrush, rinsing the mouth, rinsing the denture
itself, then replacing it.
You must clean and brush the ball of the implant as if they were
your natural teeth. As with natural teeth food and bacterial debris
must be removed or inflammation of the gums will occur. In addition,
food and debris can be forced into the O-ring fixture causing
improper seating and loss of retention. The O-ring fixture must also
be cleaned out.
The result is a normal day's activity for you, including eating,
talking, taking a nap, etc. Then, in the evening, the denture is
usually removed again, the ACCESS brush is used, and the mouth
thoroughly rinsed. The result is a fully functioning dental
appliance that works.
I've heard that standard dental implants are quite expensive. What
about Mini Dental Implants?
Mini Dental Implants are surprisingly affordable, and are usually
available at a fraction of the cost of traditional implants. By
choosing the MDI, you've chosen an enhanced way of life free of a
lot of the discomforts and heartaches of a loose or ill-fitting
denture. That's worth a lot.
Imtec Patient's Guide to Mini Dental Implants
 |
