Straumann Mini Implant
This is not a small version of a normal implant. It is a different device for a different job: stopping a lower denture from moving. Understanding that distinction prevents a common and expensive misunderstanding.
At a glance
- Diameter
- ∅ 2.4 mm, one piece, not two
- Lengths
- 10, 12 and 14 mm
- Gingival heights
- 2.8, 3.8 and 4.8 mm
- Material
- Roxolid titanium-zirconium alloy
- Surface
- SLA
- Retention
- Optiloc, with six retention strengths
What this is actually for
A lower full denture is the hardest prosthesis in dentistry to keep still. The lower jaw has no palate to create suction, the tongue lifts the denture constantly, and many long-term denture wearers have lost so much ridge that there is little left to grip. Mini implants address exactly this. Two or more are placed in the front of the lower jaw, and the denture clips onto them.
The result is a denture that stays put while eating and speaking. It is still a denture, you take it out at night, and it still rests on your gums, but it no longer moves.
Why a one-piece design
At 2.4 mm there is not enough material to make a reliable internal screw joint, so the implant and its attachment head are machined from a single piece. That is why Straumann uses Roxolid here: the company states its mini implants show 22 % higher fatigue strength than a comparable 2.4 mm titanium mini implant. When an implant is this narrow and cannot be reinforced with a separate abutment, alloy strength stops being a marketing point and becomes the design constraint.
The Optiloc attachment
The denture connects through Optiloc retention inserts, available in six retention strengths. This adjustability matters: too loose and the denture moves, too tight and a patient with limited hand strength cannot remove it. The inserts are wearing parts and are replaced periodically, Straumann's own literature notes they are subject to natural wear and are not covered by its implant warranty.
This is the part patients are most often not told. Retention inserts wear out and need replacing, typically every one to two years depending on use. Each replacement is a small appointment with a small fee. Over a decade this adds up, and it is a legitimate question to ask about before you commit.
What a mini implant will not do
A 2.4 mm mini implant is not a foundation for a fixed crown or bridge in the way a standard implant is. It is narrow, one-piece, and designed for denture retention. If you are hoping for teeth that never come out, mini implants are not the route, and a practice presenting them as a cheap equivalent to standard implants is misrepresenting them. Straumann's own literature also notes an average bone loss of 0.5–1 mm around these implants, which is normal and expected rather than alarming, but worth knowing.
Questions worth asking your dentist
- Am I a candidate for standard implants instead, and what would that cost?
- How many mini implants are you placing, and why that number?
- How often will the retention inserts need replacing, and what does each replacement cost?
- Will my existing denture be adapted, or do I need a new one?
- Is there enough bone width in my lower jaw for standard implants?
- Will you record the implant length, gingival height and reference numbers in writing?
Related systems
Straumann Tissue Level
A standard two-piece implant, for comparison with the mini.
Straumann Zygomatic
For severe upper-jaw bone loss.
References
- Straumann. Mini Implant Brochure. Manufacturer document CALIT-1332.
- Straumann. Mini Implant Step-by-Step. Manufacturer document CALIT-1333.
- Straumann. Mini Implant Infographic. Manufacturer document V2 PMR.
Specifications compiled from Straumann's publicly available product literature and Canadian product pages. Manufacturer performance claims are identified as such. DentalImplantInfo.ca is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Straumann. Straumann, Roxolid, SLActive, SLA, TLX, BLX, TorcFit, VeloDrill, Optiloc and ZAGA are trademarks of their respective owners, used here for identification and educational purposes.