Dental Implants — Alhambra, CA

Start to Finish Convenience

Our team has taken countless hours of training specifically dedicated to placing dental implants. Our team has spent years learning how to provide custom crowns, bridges, and dentures. By having them both under one roof, our implant patients are able to get everything they need without having to run between different dental offices, which is what other dental offices will force you to do the majority of the time. With our approach, people save time, money, and stress while they recover their smile.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

During your consultation, your dentist will thoroughly evaluate your oral health via a visual examination and a CBCT scan. They will let you know whether you are currently a candidate for dental implants or if you must undergo some preparatory treatment first. This appointment is also your opportunity to ask any questions you may have about dental implants. Our team will provide you with a cost estimate for your treatment plan and help you explore payment options.

Dental Implant Surgery

During your surgery, our in-house specialist will insert your dental implants into your jawbone at precise, pre-planned locations. We make every effort to ensure our patients are comfortable during this minimally invasive procedure. Your appointment may last a few hours. Afterward, some swelling and soreness are normal, but we will give you detailed instructions to help make your recovery as easy as possible. Most patients are able to go back to work within a day or two of the surgery.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Once your implants are in place, a remarkable process known as osseointegration will begin. The implants will actually fuse with the surrounding tissue, enabling them to act as a sturdy base of support for the prosthetic teeth that you will eventually receive. Following osseointegration, which usually takes a few months, small connector pieces, called abutments, will be attached to the tops of your implants during a second minor surgery. The abutments will help to secure your new teeth onto your implants.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Your dentist will carefully design your implant-supported crown, bridge, or denture with the goal of providing you with optimum function and aesthetics. The size, shape, and color of your new teeth will be customized for your unique mouth. After we attach your restoration to your implants, you will be able to go off and begin to enjoy the amazing benefits of your implant-supported smile!

5 Reasons Not to Worry About the Process of Getting Dental Implants

• High Success Rate: Dental implants have a very high success rate at between 95%- 97%, which is higher than many other procedures.
• The Implant Procedure is Precise and Planned: Dental Implant surgery is carefully planned ahead of time with state-of-the-art technology. We use tools like digital X-rays and CT imaging to plan the best location for each implant to maximize its chances of long-term success.
• Biocompatible Materials: Dental implants are titanium posts that are planted in the bone of the jaw. Because titanium naturally works in harmony with bone, this allows new cells to grow and adhere to the surface of the dental implant. This unique ability allows the bone and implant to fuse together, creating a strong, durable connection.
• There Is Very Little Discomfort Following the Procedure- With precise planning and advanced techniques, there is next to no discomfort during or after dental implant surgery. Implants are placed in healthy bone, and inflammation is rarely a problem. It should be easy to manage any soreness after the surgery with the pain medication we prescribe or over-the-counter pain relievers such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol.

Day-to-Day Benefits

One of the many reasons patients love dental implants is because of their ability to provide greater functionality on a day-to-day basis. Here are a few examples:

• Complete Comfort: Because implants sit inside the mouth just like natural teeth, they don’t rely on the gums or other teeth for support, meaning they don’t cause the discomfort associated with bridges and dentures.
• Increased Confidence: The main thing that makes dental implants special is that the new teeth are anchored within the jawbone using artificial tooth roots made out of titanium. Compared to regular bridges and dentures, this two-part construction ensures they look and function beautifully.
• Ability to Eat Most Foods: Because implants sit inside the mouth just like natural teeth, they don’t rely on the gums or other teeth for support. As a result, implant patients can eat whatever they like without their teeth moving or slipping, even crunchy foods!

Health Benefits

When it comes to dental implants in Alhambra, you will not find another tooth replacement solution that offers so many health benefits, including:

• Jawbone Preservation: The jawbone naturally starts to atrophy after tooth loss, but implant roots actually stimulate the creation of new tissue right where a patient needs it after they are placed, ensuring the bone stays healthy and strong.
• Protection for Natural Teeth: The fact that dental implants don’t require any of your healthy, natural teeth to be altered is one of the most pivotal and life-changing advantages to these unique restorations.
• Better Overall Health: Sadly, tooth loss has been linked to malnutrition, indigestion, and more. The good news is that dental implants benefit your oral and overall health by preserving your jawbone, restoring your bite, and preventing dental drift.

Long-Term Benefits

Even if you were to push aside their day-to-day benefits and health benefits, there’s always the long-term benefits, like:

• High Success Rate: Dental implants are known for their 95% success rate, but it’s actually even higher among non-smoking patients!
• Youthful Appearance: No other restorative treatment can fill the gaps in your smile while simultaneously preserving your jawbone, which leads to a more youthful-looking appearance.
• Long-Lasting Results: With minimal maintenance, an implant can easily last for multiple decades. In fact, depending on when you get them, they may even last a lifetime!

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Before beginning your journey towards a newly rebuilt smile, you’ll need to have:

• Good Overall Health: You should be healthy enough to undergo the minor surgical procedure of placing your dental implants.
• Great Oral Health: Issues like tooth decay and gum disease can pose a threat to the success of your dental implant treatment.
• Adequate Jawbone Density: There needs to be enough bone tissue in your jaw for the implant to successfully fuse with to support your new tooth or teeth.

Even if you don’t think you’re a good candidate for dental implants, come see us for a consultation anyways. We can work with you to address the problems that are standing between you and your new smile so you can enjoy this life-changing treatment.

Once you’ve been cleared for dental implant treatment, we’ll discuss what type and how many dental implants you need. Depending on the extent of your tooth loss, there are several options to choose from.

Missing 1 Tooth

Instead of filing down the teeth near the missing one to hold a prosthetic, a single implant can be placed into the jawbone and used to support a crown that instantly closes a lone gap.

Missing Multiple Teeth

To replace several missing teeth, two dental implants can be used to anchor in a single, larger set of beautiful replacement teeth, effectively “bridging the gap in your smile.

Missing All Teeth

Even patients with complete tooth loss can benefit from implants. A full denture can be attached to the jawbone using just four to six roots, giving patients a strong bite and a prosthetic that they can always trust to stay in place.

For patients who want to replace an entire row of teeth but have a thinner jawbone, All-On-4 may be the perfect solution. We can place just four implants into the jawbone in strategic areas and immediately attach them to a full denture.

Learn More About All-On-4

Types of Dental Implants

Two of the most prominent factors that determine how much you will spend on your dental implant treatment is the number of teeth you are missing and the type of restoration you will need. Dental implants are extremely versatile and can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or an entire arch.

• Single Tooth: When you’re only missing a single tooth, you will receive an implant crown that will be custom-made to blend in with the rest of your smile.
• Multiple Teeth: If you are missing two or more consecutive teeth, our team can provide what is known as an implant-retained bridge that is secured to the top of your implants and restores your smile in its entirety.
• All Teeth: When missing all your teeth from the top or bottom arch, the costliest solution is an implant-retained denture. When considering the number of adjustments and replacements you’ll need with regular dentures, an implant-retained denture will prove much more cost-effective in the long run.

The Stages of Dental Implant Treatment

Dental implant placement does not occur in a single appointment. There are multiple stages you must go through to receive your new smile. First, you meet with one of our expert dental professionals for an initial consultation. During this visit, they will examine your smile and offer a personalized treatment plan based on your needs. Impressions of your smile are taken and sent to a dental lab where technicians will begin to craft your restoration.

The following appointment will include the surgical placement of your dental implants. Depending on the number of missing teeth that need to be replaced, the procedure can take some time to complete. Once the implants are in place, you will spend the next 3-6 months healing at home and allowing osseointegration to take place.

When the implants are fully fused with the bone and surrounding tissue, you will return to have your metal abutment(s) put into place as well as your custom restoration, giving you the new and improved smile you desire.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

When you compare a dental implant with a fixed bridge or traditional denture, there are many differences, one of which is cost. Because of the surgical procedure, materials used, and process of creating your custom restoration, dental implants are naturally more expensive than traditional restorative solutions. However, dental implants provide a wide range of important benefits for both your health and confidence that you simply can’t get with other options. What’s more, the one-time cost of dental implants can easily save you money in the long run compared to dentures and bridges, which need to be replaced every several years.  

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Many dental insurance companies these days are slowly beginning to offer coverage for dental implants; however, many still believe it to be more of a “want” and not a “need.” When calling to speak to a representative from your insurance company, ask about the possible coverage for dental implant placement. Even if they will not cover the surgery, they may cover other aspects of treatment such as the restoration, initial consultation, or even sedation.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

At Advanced Dentistry of Alhambra, our team of professionals never wants you to “settle” for an alternative option to dental implants simply because of the price difference. This is why we will work to identify ways in which you can achieve the smile of your dreams and stay within your desired budget. 

No matter if insurance agrees to cover your procedure or not, our team can help you apply for low-interest financing, so you can pay out the cost of your treatment in manageable monthly payments. You may also inquire about our in-office dental savings program that allows you to pay a low annual rate of $180 for access to basic dental services as well as a 15-20% discount on additional treatments.

What to Do Directly Following Implant Surgery

With good post-operative care and making sure you get plenty of rest, your recovery should be quick and complication-free. Some important tips that we recommend to help keep your blood clot intact include:

• Avoid spitting
• Don’t drink through a straw
• Stop using tobacco products leading up to and after your surgery
• Avoid touching the surgical site with your tongue and fingers
• Place a cold compress on your mouth to help with any pain
• Take any prescriptions as advised by your dentist

Common Side-Effects You Can Expect During Recovery

Knowing what signs to look out for that could signify a problem is developing is very important. Our team wants you to feel prepared and confident when you go home to heal, but we also want you to have realistic expectations as you recover. While you’ll likely feel some discomfort as well as experience bleeding and swelling, these should get better as time passes. You can help minimize these by taking prescribed medications, sleeping with your head slightly elevated, and maintaining a soft diet. If at any point you have questions, please give our team a call.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

Following your surgery, you’ll need to eat a soft diet for several days, gradually re-introducing solid foods as you feel more comfortable. Some foods that we recommend stocking up on before your procedure include:

• Mashed potatoes
• Scrambled eggs
• Yogurt
• Pudding
• Smoothies and protein shakes
• Soups and broths
• Pasta
• Ice cream

Post-Operative Health & Oral Hygiene Tips

Following your surgery, it’s crucial to keep your mouth clean and prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar. You can do this by brushing your teeth like you normally would, taking extra caution around the surgical site. Rinse your mouth with salt water around three times a day, and make sure to avoid any irritating mouthwashes that contain alcohol.

Taking Care of Your Restored Smile

After our team has attached your replacement teeth to your dental implants, which typically occurs the following three to six months after your surgery, you’ll be able to enjoy a whole and completely functional smile again. While you may experience some sensitivity and slight discomfort, these should quickly dissipate and be easily manageable.

3D Cone Beam Imaging/3D CT Scanning

Traditional X-rays are incredibly helpful, but we often need more than a two-dimensional image for a complex procedure like dental implant placement. That’s why we have invested in a CT/cone beam scanner. This device not only creates a 3D model of your teeth and jaw, but it also let us view other oral structures that X-rays cannot, such as your sinuses, soft tissues, and even the nerves in your face. With cone beam technology, your implant dentist in Alhambra can carefully plan the placement of your new teeth; they can avoid the nerves and utilize the naturally thicker areas of the jawbone to provide the highest amount of support for your implants.

Guided Dental Implant Surgery

By running our 3D scans of your mouth through specialized computer software, we can develop a surgical guide for your implant procedure. This device helps us position your implants in exactly the right location and angle. During your implant surgery, we simply put these guides in your mouth and use them place the implants exactly according to plan. Because the guides are created by computers, there is very little room for human error. As a result, there are fewer surprises, and your treatment is more predictable and successful overall.

E4D Digital Impression System

The crown, bridge, or denture that goes on top of your dental implants in Alhambra will be meticulously designed to match your original teeth. We accomplish this by taking impressions of your mouth. Traditionally, dentists use a goopy putty-like material to capture impressions, but this method is often uncomfortable, not to mention messy. Instead, our team uses E4D digital impression technology to create your implant restorations. Not only is this system more comfortable, but it usually provides more accurate results as well. Once we have designed and placed your restorations atop your implants, no one but you and our team should even be able to tell that you lost any teeth at all!

What Can & Can’t I Eat With Dental Implants?

When opting for dental implants, you will be pleased to learn that there are very few food restrictions. One of the great advantages of implants is that they offer greater functionality when chewing and eating. However, a good general rule of thumb is to cut up harder, larger pieces of food, especially those that could cause damage to a tooth. While you may enjoy a nice, juicy apple, try cutting it up into more manageable pieces instead of biting into it. This is a good practice whether you have dental implants or not.

Will It Be Painful to Get Dental Implants?

Immediately before we begin placing your dental implants, you will receive local anesthesia to ensure you have a comfortable, pain-free experience. You will feel nothing during the actual placement process; however, once you return home to recover, it is normal to feel some discomfort and soreness in the days and weeks after. This will pass, but you should follow our detailed instructions for a successful recovery, some of which include eating softer foods in the beginning and being careful when cleaning around your implants while brushing your teeth.

Will I Need a Bone Graft or Sinus Lift Before Getting Dental Implants?

Patients who do not have enough bone density can expect to undergo a bone graft or sinus lift before receiving dental implants. This decision will be made during your initial consultation. It is at this time that we will examine your oral cavity and facial structure to determine how strong your jawbone is and whether it can hold up your implants. If not, it will be necessary to add bone minerals to these weaker areas and allow it to grow before we can begin the process of implant placement.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Even though your dental implant cannot suffer from tooth decay, it’s essential that you continue to practice optimal oral hygiene habits. This will keep your gums and the other connective tissues that help hold your dental implant in place strong and healthy. Your daily dental care routine should include two minutes of brushing your teeth twice a day, daily flossing, and regular rinsing with mouthwash.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Other tooth replacement options only restore 30% or so of your original biting force. However, dental implants can bring back 80% or more of your chewing power! Put this to good use by enjoying a varied diet full of healthy and nutritious foods. Make sure you are getting plenty of vitamin C and calcium, as these play a key role in keeping your dental implant (and the rest of your smile) in good shape.

Break Bad Habits

Dental implants are durable and highly successful, but they are not indestructible. If you want to make the most of your dental implants, you should strongly consider breaking these bad habits:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco, which increases your risk of dental implant failure
• Chewing on hard, non-food objects like fingernails, ice, and pen caps
• Using your teeth as tools to open bags, rip off price tags, or to help with other tasks

Protect Your Dental Implants

Whether you have dental implants or not, you should wear a custom mouthguard if you play sports. These little appliances can make all the difference in protecting you from a chipped, broken, knocked-out, or loosened tooth or dental implant. On the other side of the coin, if you suffer from bruxism and grind your teeth at night, you should wear a personalized nightguard. This type of mouthguard will protect your natural teeth and your dental implant from excessive wear and tear.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Whether you’ve replaced one tooth with dental implants, several teeth, or an entire arch, you should come visit us every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning. We’ll check the health of your remaining teeth, the integrity of your dental implant, and search for any signs of issues that may be developing. Early detection of issues like gum disease, oral cancer, dental abscesses, and more naturally make it easier to treat them successfully. What’s more, personalized preventive care and thorough cleanings should help keep any of these problems from developing in the first place!