Category: Dental Implants

When many people think of dental implants, it can be hard for them to think of anything else other than the promise of restored function. They think about eating their favorite foods again, enjoying food without having to cut it into tiny pieces and consuming food with the fear of embarrassment that can come from dentures sliding out of place. However, the benefits of dental implants don’t end with restored function. They can also dramatically enhance the aesthetics of your smile. Take a look at how dental implants can restore your smile.

Jaw Structure

One of the top functions of the jawbone is supporting teeth. When teeth are healthy, they stimulate the jawbones each time you use your teeth to bite and chew. When teeth are lost, the jawbones lose the stimulation and begin to deteriorate. This deterioration can cause the cheeks to sink in, cause the face to look gaunt and make your smile look thin.

Because dental implants act like natural teeth, with their titanium roots implanted into the jawbone, your face and smile will look fuller. Stimulation from the dental implants can encourage the regeneration of bone and roll back the clock on your smile.

If you’ve suffered severe bone loss in your jawbone, you may require a bone graft procedure in order to reliably support dental implants.

Realistic Teeth

Along with a fuller-looking smile, dental implants also look like and work like natural teeth – especially compared to conventional dentures. While conventional dentures can give away the illusion when they slip out place, your dental implants will hold your replacement teeth firmly in place. The teeth themselves will be made of life-like porcelain or zirconia, which look just like natural teeth – they are also stain-resistant, so it’ll be easier to maintain a bright white smile.

More on Dental Implants in North Hills, CA

Take a moment to schedule an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about your options for getting dental implants in North Hills, CA.

We all share so much in common, yet there are small differences unique to each of us. As such, there’s no single solution for replacing missing teeth with dental implants. Dental implant restoration options come in a range of styles. Before embarking on your dental implant journey, it can be helpful to know what all of your options are. Take a look at some of the most popular styles of dental implants and then keep the conversation going by scheduling a consultation for dental implants in Van Nuys, CA.

Single Dental Implants

Single dental implants are the best solution for people looking to replace one, two or even a few missing teeth. For each titanium implant installed, a dental crown is placed atop. The lifelike porcelain crowns will look just like a natural tooth. And with the support of a dental implant underneath, each one will function like a natural tooth.

Implant-Supported Dentures

If you’re looking to replace a full row of teeth, or an entire mouthful, implant-supported dentures offer the most affordable way to replace one or both rows with dental implants.

Six to eight dental implants can support an entire row of replacement teeth, specialized dentures in this case. Implant-supported dentures snap onto the dental implants embedded in the jawbone to provide biting and chewing function that’s worlds away from that support provided by conventional dentures.

All on 4 Dental Implants

Using just four optimally placed dental implants per row of teeth, the All on 4 system is the most efficient option of dental implant styles. Because the replacement teeth are fixed to the dental implants, you’ll get even more support and reliability from All on 4 dental implants than implant-supported dentures.

High-end Zirconia Bridges

To get as close to the function of natural teeth as you can, go with full arch dental implants topped with ultra-durable zirconia bridges. Six to eight dental implants are installed per row of teeth and zirconia dental bridge are permanently affixed atop them. These bridges are your most durable option for replacing missing teeth.

More on Dental Implants in Van Nuys, CA

Reserve an appointment with a local dentist to find out more about your options for getting dental implants in Van Nuys, CA.

Over time, gum disease can eat away at the gums and other structures that support the stability of teeth. Eventually, gum disease will cause teeth to fall out and will deteriorate the areas of jawbone that once held those teeth in place. Dental implants are the top solution for replacing missing teeth, but severe gum disease can eventually make someone a bad candidate for dental implants. So can you still get dental implants with gum disease? Well, it depends on the severity of the damage incurred in the jawbone and gums, along with the experience and technology of the dentist you choose.  

Gum Disease Treatment

If you have severe gum disease, you’ll need to work with your dentist to regain control over your oral health before having your dental implants placed.

Here a look at some of the many solutions for severe gum disease a dentist may recommend to help prepare you for dental implants:

 A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) – this combination of procedures seeks to reduce or eliminate bacterial pockets that develop between the teeth and gums. A deep cleaning entails going below the gum line to remove tartar from the roots of teeth. From there, the roots are smoothed so that the gums reattach uniformly.

Osseous surgery – similar to a deep cleaning, this procedure targets tartar and decay beneath the gum line. Taking a deep cleaning a step further, osseous surgery also entails reshaping the bone that supports the jaw bone underneath the gums. It also entails regenerating bone lost to decay.

Periodontal maintenance – when one deep cleaning isn’t enough to get your oral health back on track, your dentist may recommend a series of them. This is known as periodontal maintenance.

Considerations

Once gum disease progresses from gingivitis to periodontitis, there’s no going back. You’ll need to diligently clean your teeth, tongue and gums every day to prevent gum disease from overrunning your mouth again.

After you’ve received your dental implants, it’s imperative that you check in with your dentist several times a year to ensure that gum disease doesn’t threaten your new teeth.

More on Dental Implants in San Fernando, CA

Reserve an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about your options for getting dental implants in San Fernando, CA and Van Nuys, CA. 

They may seem foreign at first, but in no time at all dental implants will become a natural component of everyday life for you. Using biocompatible material, usually titanium, an oral surgeon can implant dental implants into your mouth in a single appointment. However, it’ll take several appointments before getting to the big day: implant placement day. Find out what goes into getting dental implants placed and learn how this teeth replacement option can enhance the quality of your life.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants provide support for dental restorations such as dental crowns, bridges and various styles of dentures.

There are several variations in the form factor of dental implants, though the most common style is composed of two primary parts:

The implant post – usually made of titanium, the implant post is a tiny rod that is inserted into pilot holes made in the jawbone.

The abutment – this part sits atop the implant post and sits above the gumline. The abutment services as a connector, to which dental restorations can be affixed.

How will the doctor determine if I’m a candidate?

These are some of the key things your dentist will assess when determining your candidacy for dental implants:

·         A need for new teeth

·         Sufficient mass and density in the jawbone

·         The motivation to see the treatment plan through

How painful is implant placement?

During implant placement, you won’t feel anything more than mild pressure from your dentist’s hands and tools. Local anesthesia will ensure that you experience no discomfort during your procedure.

How soon can I use my new teeth?

It’ll take several months for your implants to heal and fuse with the jawbone. This will take at least four months. However, you’ll be given temporary restoration to use while you wait for your implants to heal enough to support your permanent restoration.

More on Dental Implants in Valley Glen, CA

Take a minute to schedule a consultation with a local dentist to learn more about what you can expect from getting dental implants in Valley Glen, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

Losing a permanent tooth can be distressing, a feeling that snowballs as more teeth follow. So it can be difficult for some dental implant candidates to let go of the few remaining teeth they have in order to get a full set of dental implants and replacement teeth. Your doctor’s recommendation or whether to pull or work with any remaining natural teeth will depend heavily on each tooth left.

Find out what considerations your dentist may raise about tooth extractions for dental implants and take a look at some of the reasons you might want to preserve remaining natural teeth.

Why You Should Let Go of Natural Teeth

When a tooth is lost, it can also trigger the loss of bone in the area of the jawbone where the tooth was once rooted. Your dentist will look at the jawbone under any remaining natural teeth to gauge whether the teeth will last you the rest of your life or fail on you. If the bone under your remaining teeth is deteriorating, your dentist will strongly recommend replacing them with dental implants.

Benefits of Removing Teeth to Prepare for Dental Implants

Removing failing teeth gives your oral surgeon the ability to make you a stronger candidate for dental implants. If you have been experiencing bone loss in the jawbone – due to aging, chronic health issues, tooth loss or gum disease – your dentist can graft bone material to help fortify your jawbone for dental implants.

Reasons You Might Want to Preserve Remaining Teeth

If you’ve got solid jawbone supporting your remaining natural teeth, you may feel more compelled in wanting to save those remaining teeth. Your oral surgeon and team can work with your situation to help incorporate your remaining natural teeth into your dental implant journey. Because ultimately, your dental implant journey is about your happiness.

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The decision to get full arch dental implants marks a new chapter in your life. It’s no small decision and there are several appointments on the road to getting dental implants, but the months of consultations and the healing periods pale in comparison to again having fully functioning teeth that can last you the rest of your life. Take a closer look at dental implants and go over some of the top things you need to know about full arch dental implants.

What are full arch dental implants?

In dentistry, an “arch” is one of the two areas where teeth grow into. Your top teeth are on one arch, the bottom teeth on another. In terms of replacing teeth, full arch dental implants are a set of implants, usually four to six, that can support a full row of replacement teeth.

What are the benefits?

Beyond restoring the ability to eat without difficulty and to speak clearly, full arch dental implants have several benefits that make them superior to all other teeth replacement options:

·         Stability – as dental implants heal, the fuse with the jawbone. This foundation nears the strength of natural teeth, providing biting and chewing function that’s superior to conventional dentures.

·         Longevity – though lower-end restorations use acrylic parts, the mid to high-end solution are composed of parts that can last you the rest of your life – with proper maintenance.

·         Maintenance – maintaining full arch dental implants and the restoration takes less effort than conventional dentures, which generally needs to be soaked every night.

·         Appearance – they look more natural, thanks to their stability.

What does it take to become a strong candidate?

These are the elements of a strong candidate for full arch dental implants:

·         Missing teeth

·         Healthy jawbone to support implants. There are procedures your dentist can perform to improve the strength of your jawbone.

·         Desire to stay the course over the months it takes to get implants

More on Full Arch Dental Implants in Lake Balboa, CA

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They’re viewed by some people as a budget-friendly option for getting dental implants and replacing a full row of teeth. Implant-supported dentures are indeed a high-value, low-cost way to getting dental implants and replacement teeth. However, there’s more than one type of implant-supported dentures. Take a look at how implant-supported dentures work, learn about the variations of this restoration style and then find out the things you’ll want to know as you consider your options for replacement teeth.

How Implant-Supported Dentures Work

Implant-supported dentures use anywhere from two to six dental implants to support specialized dentures. The dental implants are strategically implanted in the jawbone, providing a reliable foundation for dentures. Over time, the titanium dental implants will fuse with the jawbone and will near the reliably of natural teeth as the implants heal. After the implants have healed, your dentures will attach your removable dentures to them.

Types of Implant-Supported Dentures

There are several variations of implant-supported dentures, but there are two primary styles:

Ball Retained Dentures – the abutment, the part of the implant that sits above the gum line, is equipped with a ball that snaps into a socket on the dentures. So each implant snaps onto a connection on the underside of the dentures.

Bar Retained Dentures – metal bars connect each implant, on the same row of teeth, to spread the load the implants will bear from the dentures. The dentures will clip onto the metal bars.

Considerations

Implant-supported dentures offer the lowest entry point into the market for dental implants and replacement teeth. However, you don’t have to stay at that entry point. If you’re interested in one day upgrading to an even more reliable restoration than implant-supported dentures, be sure to express these desires to your dentist during the consultation phase of your dental implant journey.

More on Implant-Supported Dentures in Van Nuys, CA

Take a brief moment to schedule a consultation with a local dentist to learn more about your options for implant-supported dentures in Van Nuys, CA.

It’s likely, you’ve heard all the common complaints about conventional dentures for most of your life. Their adhesives break down and they slip out of place. They need adjusting and can irritate the gums. They don’t provide enough cutting power, so some food has to be cut up or left off the menu. But dentures can be so much more when they’re combined with dental implants. Take a look at how dental implants and dentures combine to deliver performance that nears that of natural teeth.

How Dental Implants Add Stability to Dentures

Whether supported by adhesives or dental implants, dentures seek to transfer the force of the jaws into biting and grinding function. In the case of conventional dentures, that force transfer falls apart when adhesives break down.

With dental implants, your dentures will be affixed to strategically placed titanium rods that are implanted in the jawbone – the same way that the roots of natural teeth take root in the jawbone. Over a few months, the titanium will fuse with the jawbone, providing support that can last you the rest of your life.

Synergy: The Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures

The stability of dental implants nears that of natural teeth, providing implant-supported dentures significant benefits over dentures that rely on adhesion:

More on the menu – no more cutting up food to make them manageable with dentures. The stability afforded by dental implants will allow you to eat tough, fibrous and chewy foods.

More confidence – you won’t have to worry about your dentures slipping out of place

Less maintenance – You won’t have to clean off and reapply adhesives

Considerations: Upgradeable

While implant-supported dentures are a big step up from conventional dentures, there a few restoration options that are even better. You can keep your implant-supported dentures for the rest of your life, or you could upgrade them to full arch dental implants in the future.

More on Dental Implants in Panorama City, CA

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It can take the better part of a lifetime for the permanent to fail and begin to fall out. But within roughly a year, you can replace those missing teeth with the next best option: dental implants. Knowing what to expect along your dental implant journey can help ensure you have the best experience possible. Take a look at some of the key things you can expect as you embark on the road to replace failed or missing teeth with dental implants.

Exams and Consultations

The moment to truth starts with your very first consultation on dental implants. It’s during this consultation that you’ll find out whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants, a strong candidate or a that they aren’t right for you.

Your dentist will take CT scans of your mouth to determine if your jawbones are strong enough to support dental implants – and if not, whether a supporting procedure could improve your candidacy for dental implants.

Supporting Procedures

If you’re a strong candidate for dental implants, you’ll march right past this point to your implant placement procedure. If you’re a good candidate who needs a bit of work, these are some of the procedures you may need before implant placement:

Bone grafting – this procedure will help strengthen weak areas of your jawbone and regenerate bone. You’ll need several months to heal before moving to implant placement.

Tooth extractions – this procedure can be done on the day of implant placement.

Ridge preservation – this procedure helps preserve a socket after a tooth has been extracted from it. It can be done months or years ahead of placement.

Implant Placement

The big day won’t take up much of your day. Generally, a dentist can place a full set of implants in just one appointment. Your dentist will use surgical guides to help place the implants quickly, efficiently and in optimal position to maximize the support the implants provide.

More on Dental Implants in Valley Glen, CA

Take a moment to set an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about what to expect along your journey toward getting dental implants in Valley Glen, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

It certainly is a big deal to once again have the ability to eat your favorite foods. Yet, dental implants can bring many more improvement to your life beyond restoring your ability to firmly bite, chew and grind your food. Find out what makes full arch dental implants such a popular and reliable teeth replacement options, and take a look at the many ways it can elevate your qualify of life.

What Are Full Arch Dental Implants?

Full arch dental implants are part of an approach for replacing an entire row of natural teeth with replacement teeth. Six to eight economically placed implant posts are installed per row, or “arch,” of teeth. Replacement teeth are fixed to the implant posts and aren’t removable, as are implant-supported dentures. They provide much more support and reliability than conventional dentures, which are held in place by adhesives and suction.

A More Confident Smile

Because your replacement teeth will be anchored to dental implants, you can smile without worrying about your teeth shifting in your mouth. With conventional dentures, adhesives can break down and cause your replacement teeth to slip out of place.

More Enjoyable Meals

Even with conventional dentures, there may be many food that you simply aren’t able to enjoy the way you used to. Some dishes will need to be broken down before consuming, while other will have to be taken off the menu altogether. But with dental implant, you can enjoy all the same foods you would with healthy natural teeth.

A More Natural Cleaning Routine

There’s no need to soak your dentures every night. With full arch dental implants, you home dental care routine will look much like the steps you’d take to care for natural teeth.

More on Full Arch Dental Implants in San Fernando, CA

Take a moment to schedule an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about how you can have your life changed with  dental implants in San Fernando, CA.