Mini Dental Implants

Dr. Todd Shatkin talks about same day dentures on AM Buffalo October 6th, 2008. Now with new technologies we can offer same day high quality professional dentures!!!

We would like to thank all the dentists and staff who attended our lecture and Annual IAMDI meeting in Orlando, Florida! We had a wonderful time seeing many new and familiar faces.

The International Academy of Mini Dental Implants would like to congratulate all the new Fellowship members!

Also, we would like to thank Intra-Lock International for sponsoring the reception after the Orlando lecture.

Dr. Todd Shatkin will be attending the AAID Conference in San Diego, Florida. He will be a roundtable speaker on Mini Implants on October 31, 2008 at 12pm. Dr. Shatkin will speak on mini implants throughout the conference, be sure to attend this implant information rich discussion! Check the AAID website for more information…

Dr. Shatkin will be holding a brief seminar in New York City on Thursday November 13th. Please visit MiniDentalImplants.com for more information…

We have a new AM Buffalo Segment Video from September 29th, 2008 on Denture Stabilization.

Mini dental implants are now being used commonly across the World everyday. For nearly 20 years Dr. Shatkin has been providing Western New York and the Nation with beautiful smiles. For the past few years Dr. Todd E. Shatkin has been a guest on Great Look Monday’s on the AM Buffalo Show, a local Buffalo Television News Show. In the March 2008 episode Dr. Shatkin shows complete implant, cosmetic, and restorative dental care. Watch and see how easy it is to replace a few teeth in usually under an hour without any pain or discomfort.

All questions answered in the YouTube video:

How long does the mini implant procedure take?

Is there any discomfort?

How much do mini implants cost?

After your procedure you can leave the office and eat a full meal feeling confident with your mini dental implants. You won’t have to worry about smiling, speaking, or eating anymore, mini implants are your solution! For more information please visit Mini Dental Implants for more information. Now, sit back and watch how easy it is to replace a few teeth.
Click here to watch at YouTube

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Phil Cressman Says:

January 29th, 2008 at 3:57 pm

Phil Cressman, Male, aged 62 with dental problems most of my life due to enamel problems (identical twin) I recently lost a tooth that was supporting a bridge and my dentist, Ontario, Canada recommended an implant. Since mini-implants are not normally done in Canada for tooth replacements (only denture stabalization) I contacted Dr. Tood Shatkin in Buffalo, NY. Had a visit for evaluation & Dr Shatkin recommended two implants to support a two tooth crown. Without going into costs as every case is different I do believe my treatment was about 50% the price of having conventional implants placed in Ontario. The really big savings is in terms of pain & suffering. When I returned for the implants Dr Shatkin was working for only about 30 minutes (aside from freezing etc) and the results were great. (Crown had been fabricated from moulds taken at the time of my first consultation.) Actually ate dinner a few hours later & only minor soreness for a few days. It has been only one week & I have to return for a check up but HIGHLY RECOMMEND at least looking into mini-implants as a potential alternative to conventional dental implants with associated surgery. (In my case a sinus lift would have been performed if conventional implants were to be used)

Thanks Phil for your expierience…

Dr. Shatkin

We are fortunate to have the opportunity to interview Dr. Todd Shatkin who is one of the true pioneers in Small Diameter Implants. Dr. Shatkin has developed some of the original techniques for placing and restoring Small Diameter Implants and continues to develop new techniques and applications. Dr. Shatkin is responsible for publishing the most comprehensive longevity studies on Small Diameter Implants to appear in the peer reviewed literature.

Osseonews: Since we last spoke, there have been some new developments with mini implants and with the F.I.R.S.T. (Fabricated Implant Restoration and Surgical Technique)* procedure that you developed can you tell us about this?

Todd Shatkin,DDS: Sure, the biggest thing is that my patent for F.I.R.S.T. was approved in late 2006 and that was very exciting. This is my unique technology and technique for guiding the accurate placement of Small Diameter Implants (SDI’s) allowing immediate placement of crowns at the same visit. This protocol is foolproof. It is simple, direct and absolutely predictable. The other major development is that we have authorized only one dental laboratory in the United States to use this technology which is Samuel Shatkin FIRST, LLC (Please see: www.shatkinfirst.com). As you know the art and science of dentistry is continuously evolving and we have to keep up with all the advances and this can be a challenge at times. We continue to improve our laboratory procedures to keep up with these changes. We now have over 1200 dentists who have used my patented F.I.R.S.T. technology with great success.

The feedback from the dentists who have used our system is very positive. The technology and the technique works and is very predictable. That’s it in a nutshell. We have taken two of the more difficult aspects of implant placement and made this whole process very user friendly. By using SDI’s, we eliminate the need in many cases for bone augmentation and sinus lift procedures. By having such an accurate and simple system for SDI placement, we eliminate many of the vagaries and potential for complications.

Osseonews: Dr. Shatkin what SDI system are you currently using and why?

Dr. Shatkin: The system I have switched over to is the MDL System which is manufactured and distributed by Intra-Lock Inc. and distributed by Samuel Shatkin FIRST, LLC. The MDL (Mini Drive Lock) so named because of the patented “Drive Lock” technology which I will discuss, is available in a 2.0mm, 2.5mm and the MILO mini implant at 3.0mm. These three diameters are all you need.

There are several advantages to these SDI’s over other systems that I have used in the past. One significant advantage is the fact that these are significantly stronger – as much as 30-40% stronger. This results in a much lower chance of fracture during or after placement. Another huge advantage is the “Drive Lock” system for delivery which allows the dentist to place the implant directly from the package to the bone in one fluid motion. I normally place these with the surgical motor which further simplifies the procedure.

Osseonews: Dr Shatkin, FDA approval is a big issue when it comes to implant dentistry. Can you tell me about the FDA with regard to these MDL small diameter implants?

Dr. Shatkin: Yes, the FDA has granted the MDL 510K clearance to market these as “Intended for Long Term Intra-bony applications”. This is the approval that the dentists need to feel good when placing MDL implants for both denture stabilization and crown and bridge fixed restorations using F.I.R.S.T. Technique.

Osseonews: Tell me about Shatkin FIRST Lab where is it and how does it operate?

Dr. Shatkin: The lab is in our medical/dental center in Amherst, NY. My father Samuel Shatkin, DDS, MD is a Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgeon with more then 50 years of clinical experience. He owns and operates the lab. There are many highly trained and experienced technicians working hard to produce the best restorations possible. Every case submitted by a dentist is personally reviewed and planned by my father or myself. We review the xrays and articulated study models to determine the appropriate placement positions and sizes of the implants to be placed. Once this is done and the case is planned and accepted we perform “model surgery” and place analogs in the models. Next under the guidance of licensed dentists the technicians make a surgical guide stent and the final restorations so that the dentist can place the mini implant and permanently cement the single or multiple crowns at the next visit. This is my patented F.I.R.S.T. Technique which has now been utilized for more then 4 years. In addition to this the laboratory is also a full service national dental lab and provides among other things, dentures, veneers, standard crown and bridge work, case planning and consulting etc. They have the latest in advanced porcelain technology including the newest Ivoclar emax frameworks.

Osseonews: What mini implant systems does Shatkin FIRST lab work with?

Dr. Shatkin: They work with any approved SDI system on the market. They are an authorized reseller of Intra-Lock, for the MDL and MILO SDI system. An advantage of this is that if the dentist wishes he can have the implants that are recommended by a consulting dentist (e.g., my father or me) shipped to them with their lab case so they are sure to have the needed appropriate implants in their inventory when the patient is in the chair. We were not able to offer this service previously. This upgraded service has been readily accepted by the clinicians and again, the feedback is very positive.

Osseonews: One question that has repeatedly come up is where are the studies in the peer-reviewed literature to support the long term use of SDI’s?

Dr. Shatkin: This is important. The largest study actually was published in the Feb, 2005 issue of Compendium. I was the primary author of this article which discussed results of over 2500 mini implants I placed during a 5 1/2 year period. Anyone desiring a reprint can contact Compendium or myself. The results were astonishing! We had over 97% success with minis for single and multiple crowns and bridge applications. This is indisputable long term success!

Osseonews: Could you please describe your patented, unique approach to the placement of the SDI’s using your surgical guide stent and flapless surgery.

Dr. Shatkin: Once Shatkin FIRST Lab sends you the surgical stent and finished restoration, the dentist, using the F.I.R.S.T. Pilot Drill Guide instrument places the stent in the mouth, then the drill guide into the titanium sleeve of the stent and using the pilot drill provided with the mini implant system drills through the drill guide into the bone about 8mm deep. Then the drill guide is removed and the mini implant is placed through the stent sleeve into the bone. I use the surgical motor now to place the MDL into position. This allows a very smooth and simple method of placement. Once the implant is down most of the way, the stent is removed and the mini implant is placed all the way into position. It is quite a simple process. Next the restoration is tried in place and any minor adjustments are made and the case is completed. The same process with the guide stent is used for crowns, bridges and denture cases.

Osseonews: Do you feel that general dentists can learn to place small diameter implants with the current training programs available? What do you recommend for training?

Well, as you know, I have been teaching SDI placement for the past 7 years and I have placed over 5000 SDI’s with amazing success. I am continuing to provide training programs throughout the country and abroad, and also in my Amherst, NY offices. General dentists can definitely leave one of these programs ready to place SDI’s. There are other programs out there which I’m sure are equally good for training. Anyone interested in taking one of my upcoming programs can contact me at tshatkin@minidentalimplants.com or 716-839-1700.

Osseonews: Is there an organization for dentists to belong to which focuses on mini implants?

Dr. Shatkin: Yes, a group of us have started the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants. This was our first year and our next annual meeting will be held in conjunction with our Las Vegas Mini Implant Symposium March 14 and 15, 2008. We have nearly 100 members of the Academy and it is growing fast. Anyone interested can contact me or go to www.IAOMDI.ORG and click on membership.

Osseonews: In your experience, is there less chance of complications when placing small diameter implants as opposed to conventional implants?

Dr. Shatkin: Definitely, I have been placing implants for the past 18 years and the SDI’s for the past 7. There is no question that there are far fewer complications with SDI’s. There is no cutting, no sutures, minimal postoperative pain or swelling and the procedure is accomplished in one treatment visit in most cases.

Osseonews: Do you see SDI’s replacing conventional implants with wider diameters?

Dr. Shatkin: What we are seeing is a shift from wider, conventional implants to narrower ones – sort of a downsizing in progress and the FDA is moving in the right direction by approving these systems. As we have discussed, implantology is still very much a developing science.

Osseonews: What do you see as the next major paradigm shift in implant dentistry?

Dr. Shatkin: Immediate loading. More and more cases will be brought into immediate function. We are seeing the wide scale success of this now with the SDI systems. And I predict this trend will be exploding as more SDI’s are placed and more and more dentists start placing them. Anyone performing implants should be seriously considering the use of SDI’s in their practice.

Osseonews: If you were treatment planning a mandibular overdenture, would you place 4 SDI’s — 2 in each of the #22 and 27 areas?

Dr. Shatkin: Normally yes we place these between the mental foramina so around 22, 24,25 and 27 areas – 4 SDI’s.

Osseonews: If you were treatment planning a maxillary overdenture, what SDI implant configuration would you use?

Dr. Shatkin: I usually place 4-6 SDI’s between the bicuspids. I try to avoid the posterior maxilla for overdentures. This traditionally has been one of the danger zones.

We are also having tremendous success using these for “roundhouse” – fixed bridge restorations using 10-12 minis in each arch. We have almost 100% success as do hundreds of dentists who have done this procedure using my F.I.R.S.T. Technique.

Osseonews: How would you replace a maxillary central incisor? Maxillary lateral incisor? Maxillary canine?

Dr. Shatkin: When replacing an incisor you want to use the longest mini implant possible as it is important for strength especially in the maxilla. We use the 2.5mm MDL or the 3.0mm MILO implant for these applications.

*F.I.R.S.T. Technique is Patented with the USPTO #7,108,511 and a registered Trademark, owned exclusively by Todd E. Shatkin, DDS all rights reserved.

emax is a registered Trademark of Ivoclar/Vivadent.

MDL and MILO are registered Trademarks of Intra-Lock International.