There’s an assumption many people carry about adulthood: by a certain age, you’re supposed to have all your teeth. When that isn’t your reality, it can feel isolating, even unsettling. You may find yourself wondering if you’re somehow an outlier, or worse, a cautionary tale. In truth, the data paint a far more familiar picture. Across the United States, adults aged 20 to 64 have an average of 9 decayed, missing, or filled teeth and 25 remaining natural teeth. Since most adults have 28 teeth, living with fewer teeth is not unusual. Tooth loss, dental disease, and restorative work are woven into many adults’ health histories, even though they are rarely talked about in everyday conversation. At Sunshine Dental, we provide dental implants in Albuquerque, NM, to patients who need to replace missing teeth, whether restoring a single tooth or rebuilding an entire smile.
Dental Implants in Albuquerque: A Lasting Tooth Replacement
Dental implants are small titanium posts that we place directly into your jawbone to replace missing tooth roots. The implant is made of titanium, a material your bone cells readily attach to, forming a firm biological bond that secures the implant much like bone secures a natural root. The implant’s threaded, screw-like shape increases surface contact and helps it anchor into the bone immediately after placement, keeping it stable during healing.
Once the implant integrates with your bone, it begins performing the function your natural root once performed. Chewing forces travel through the implant and into the jawbone. That pressure matters. Bone tissue depends on regular stimulation to maintain its strength and volume. When a tooth is missing and no root remains, the bone in that area begins to shrink. The body reabsorbs bone that no longer receives signals to preserve. This process, called bone resorption, can begin within months and continue gradually over time.
As the bone changes, your bite adjusts in response. Neighboring and opposing teeth shift to compensate for the missing support. Teeth may drift, tilt, or extend into the open space. Those movements alter how forces distribute across your bite. Some teeth absorb more pressure than they were built to handle. As a result, the pressure can accelerate wear, increase sensitivity, contribute to chipping, or reduce long-term stability.
By placing an implant beneath the gums, we restore the missing root structure that both supports a crown, bridge, or denture while also reintroducing stimulation to the bone.
Mini Implants: How They Differ From Traditional Implants
At Sunshine Dental, we primarily use mini dental implants to support tooth replacement solutions. Mini implants differ from standard implants in two important ways. First, they measure just under 3 millimeters in diameter, making them roughly half the width of many traditional implants. Second, they are a one-piece implant.
A one-piece implant is manufactured as a single solid unit. The portion placed in the bone and the post that supports the restoration are fused together rather than assembled from separate components. Because of this design, Dr. Jaime places the implant in a single surgical step, and the post is already in place to support a temporary or permanent tooth. This structure can simplify treatment and, in appropriate cases, shorten the time between placement and restoration.
The smaller size, combined with the one-piece design, introduces significant advantages. Dr. Jaime places a mini implant using a minimally invasive technique, creating a small pilot opening through the gum tissue and into the jawbone. This approach limits disruption to surrounding tissues and typically supports faster healing.
Size also influences bone requirements. Traditional implants are wider and often require more bone volume for stable placement. When bone loss has occurred, patients may need bone grafting before moving forward. Mini implants, by contrast, require less bone due to their narrow diameter. In many cases, Dr. Jaime can place mini implants without bone grafting, allowing existing bone to provide sufficient support.
Explore Your Options With Mini Dental Implants in Albuquerque
Every smile tells a different story. If tooth loss has affected yours, we can help you evaluate solutions that fit your health, goals, and timeline. Modern implant dentistry allows us to rebuild missing tooth structure in a way that feels secure, functions naturally, and supports the jawbone beneath the surface.
If tooth loss has affected your smile, we’re here to help you explore solutions designed for lasting support and function. Schedule a free consultation at Sunshine Dental in Albuquerque, NM, to learn more about your options.
