What Are
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.
Late in l997, Dr. Sendax collaborated about his mini 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 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 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 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.
