Dental Implants in Los Angeles, CA

A dental implant is a small titanium post that acts as a tooth root under the gum line that can support crowns, bridges, and dentures to replace missing teeth. At Smileywood Dental Office, we place the implant into the jawbone through a minor surgical procedure and then the jawbone is allowed to heal for several months. During this time, the jawbone will fuse to the implant in a process known as “osseointegration.” Once this has occurred, the implant can support restorations such as a crown or bridge. 

Dental implants look natural, allowing you to chew and speak normally. Dental Implants also help keep the surrounding healthy teeth from shifting out of place and causing further dental problems.

The Dental Implants Procedure

During your initial consultation, we will take X-rays of your teeth and mouth to determine if you are a good candidate for implants. After deciding that you are a candidate, we will place the implant into your jaw. We will need to perform minor oral surgery to place your dental implant, during which the incision is made in the gum line, a small hole is drilled into the bone, and the implant is placed into it, with an abutment attached to the implant. Once the implant has been placed, the bone will heal around it so the gum tissue will close over the implant but with the abutment accessible. Then, a crown will be cemented onto the abutment to complete your implant procedure. The entire process can take several months to complete, but the result will be a natural-looking tooth that functions just like a natural tooth!

The Benefits Of Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the most permanent ways to replace missing teeth, and they can last a lifetime with proper care. They are also the most natural-looking way of replacing missing teeth because they look and function like your natural teeth! When cared for properly, dental implants can completely restore your smile and enable you to eat the foods you love again without having to deal with messy adhesives or loose dentures.

Many patients with missing teeth also deal with bone loss in their jaw. While bridges and dentures help restore teeth, they do nothing to prevent bone mass loss over the years. Over time, the bone will continue to deteriorate, making your jawbone weaker and less able to hold up your replacement teeth. Dental implants prevent further bone deterioration and restore your ability to enjoy a healthy diet by continuing to stimulate the jaw bone as your now-lost tooth roots did. Your new implants will also allow you to bite into all your favorite foods easily! Unlike bridges or dentures, you can also brush and floss around your new dental implants without difficulty. This means that your implant will look like a natural tooth and feel like one!

If you are missing one or more teeth and are looking for a permanent solution to replace them, contact Smileywood Dental Office at 4354 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029, or call or text (323) 741-0556 to find out if dental implants are right for you!