The role of the small-diameter dental implant A preliminary report on the Miniplant system
The Miniplant is a titanium, threaded, self-tapping implant that is 2.9 mm in diameter and comes in lengths of 10,13, and 15 mm with an internal hexed design. The surgical technique involves exposure of the underlying alveolar bone and a 2-mm twist drill at 1500 and 2000 rpm to the desired length. Next, a 2.5-mm internally irrigated shaping drill should be used to drill to the depth of the desired implant. This is followed by using a finishing drill or counter-sink drill to shape the occlusal end of the prepared site and to contour the bone to achieve a precise fit of the implant collar. The implant is drilled using low speed and threaded into the implant site. The final positioning is achieved with a ratchet wrench followed by cover screws. The implant should remain unloaded for three to four months in the mandible and six months in the maxilla. The prime indication for the Miniplant is for replacing mandibular incisor teeth. It is also indicated when the proposed implant site is less than 5 mm in diameter and not amenable to bone grafting. The small-diameter implant may allow for restorations of the mandibular incisor, which appears more anatomic and maintains a more esthetic emergence profile. Another indication is a knife-edge edentulous mandible. In an animal study, Block et al. evaluated the effects of diameter and length on the pull-out force of implants. They found that the pull-out strength correlated to the length of the implant and not its diameter. The small diameter implant provides an alternative in narrow or compromised recipient bone. [M.C.R.]
Barber, D., and R. Seckinger, Compendium, 11:1390, 1994