Mini dental implants can be placed in both the upper and lower jaw. It is important to note that there is a slightly higher failure rate of mini dental implants in the upper jaw and there is a reason for this.
The alveolar bone in the lower jaw is denser and harder than the bone in the upper jaw. On a general level also, you can choose longer dental implants in the lower jaw than in the upper jaw because the upper jaw can be compromised with the maxillary sinus and the floor of the nasal cavity.
Having said that, mini dental implants have many advantages over traditional or conventional implants in the right circumstances. In many circumstances when it is not possible to use conventional larger diameter implants, mini dental implants can be implants of choice.
Mini dental implants require less alveolar ridge width and this is often present after teeth in the upper jaw have been extracted. Studies have shown that 25% of alveolar bone loss occurs within the first month of tooth extraction is carried out and over the course of a year, 40% of the ridge width will be lost.
This often makes larger conventional diameter implants impossible without needing extensive maxillary sinus augmentation and additional surgery. These surgeries have complications attached to them and there is also the additional cost. Mini dental implants can widen a narrow ridge and also compress the bone at the same time which is advantageous in these situations.