The 'mini'-implant has arrived.

There is no question that dental implants have been the most influential change in dentistry during the last half-century. In general, they are well-proven and highly useful. However, the diameter of standard implants (approximately 3.75 mm), along with the frequent need to graft bone to allow for their placement, have limited their use for those who most need implants. The introduction, approval and continuing observation of success of smaller-diameter mini-implants have stimulated use of implants in situations in which standard-sized implants could not have been used without grafting. The result has been more patients who have been served successfully at reduced cost with minimized pain and trauma--patients who could not have been treated with implants otherwise. Continuing research is needed for further verification of the acceptability of mini-implants.