3 Types of Dental Implants and Which Is Right for You? [Video Overview]

Over the years, a variety of dental implant treatments have been developed. But now, in 2026, we tend to use implants made of titanium, an incredibly strong and reliable metal that integrates with living bone. Once placed in your jawbone, these implants will bond with your jaw to create a stable connection. Then, using that connection, we anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures in place to restore your smile. At our office, we offer three distinct titanium implants: Traditional implants, mini implants, and mono implants. But which types of dental implants are right for you depends on factors like your jawbone quality and budget. To learn which implant best suits your needs, we encourage you to come in for a free implant consultation!

The 3 Types of Dental Implants at Brent Bradford, DDS

The 3 types of dental implants we offer at Brent Bradford, DDS, in Syracuse, NY, differ in size, structure, and price.

Conventional Dental Implants

Conventional dental implants are typically 3 mm or larger in diameter, but they can be as large as 8 mm depending on the case!

These implants also come in separate parts, each with its own function. The implant body, also called the implant screw, embeds in your jawbone. The abutment, also known as the connector piece, attaches the implant to your restoration. And finally, most conventional implants have a small screw that holds the abutment and implant body together.

To place these implants, we make an incision in your gums and use a series of drills to create an opening in your jawbone. Then, once the implant body is in place, we wait a few months for it to integrate with your jawbone. Once it’s secure enough, we will attach the abutment and a temporary restoration to your implant, temporarily restoring your smile. And when your gum and bone are fully healed, we’ll secure a final restoration to your implants to permanently restore your smile.

Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are less than 3 mm in diameter and have a unique one-piece design.

Thanks to this structure, mini implants provide many benefits for patients, including:

• Less invasive process: Because mini dental implants are small, they don’t need an invasive placement process. Rather than using incisions and a series of large drills, these titanium posts only need a small pilot hole through the gums and into your jaw.
• Simpler procedural visit: Mini implants are one-piece dental implants. Thanks to their simple structure, we place them in a single placement appointment.
• Faster healing time: With a gentle, one-visit placement process, mini implants also heal quickly. Instead of waiting months for your implant to integrate with your jaw, these titanium posts integrate in a few weeks.
• More affordable price: Fewer pieces and appointments make mini dental implants more affordable than most other implant options. In many cases, these slim-diameter implants are the least expensive option available.

Mono Dental Implants

Mono dental implants are actually a combination of both traditional and mini implants. While traditional implants have a larger diameter and mini implants have fewer parts, mono dental implants combine those two features to create a separate type of dental implant.

Mono implants are typically over 3 mm in diameter and feature a unique one-piece design. For patients who want the security of a large implant and the perks of a one-piece unit, these titanium screws are an excellent choice. Most often, we use mono dental implants to support molars or to anchor full-arch restorations to your jaw.

At Brent Bradford, DDS, we place mono dental implants using a similar method to how we place traditional implants. But we only need one placement appointment, as they don’t have separate components to manage. And thanks to their simple design, these implants still heal faster than their traditional counterparts.

Which Dental Implant Are You Eligible for?

The 3 types of dental implants that we offer differ in size, structure, and price. But these differences help determine which implant is best for your smile! While each titanium screw has its own necessary use, not everyone will be eligible for each one.

Traditional dental implants are best for cases where patients have a lot of jawbone structure. Without sufficient bone material, most patients will need additional procedures, such as bone grafting and sinus lifts, to rebuild lost bone and create more space for the implant.

Mini dental implants, in contrast, are a great option for those with limited jaw space! Because these implants are smaller in diameter, they fit in less bone, giving patients with bone loss opportunities to restore their smile. However, it’s important to note that mini implants need relatively dense bone. For patients with softer bone quality, mini implants may not be a suitable solution.

Finally, mono dental implants are a good option for patients who need a larger diameter but want to have a single-piece implant. They are a sort of compromise between mini implants and traditional implants, designed for those who want features from both.

During your free consultation with us in Syracuse, NY, we will review these options and determine which one is best for your smile. Using 3D digital imaging, we assess your bone quality and quantity, finding exactly which implant suits your needs.

Review the Implant Types We Offer at a Free Consultation!

Titanium dental implants are the gold standard for tooth replacement in 2026. But there are several types of dental implants to choose from, and not all will be right for your smile. Traditional dental implants are great for those with enough jawbone, while mini dental implants help patients without enough bone restore their smiles. Mono implants combine aspects of both implants to ensure everyone has a titanium implant that suits their needs. To learn which option is right for you, book a free consultation with us at Brent Bradford, DDS in Syracuse, NY!

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