Are Dental Implants For Me?

Location

Phone
(949) 551-5902

Address
4330 Barranca Parkway, Suite 140
Irvine, CA 92604

Map

View Larger Map

Follow Us

Do any of the following describe your situation?

* Do you have missing teeth, failing teeth, or dentures that just don't work?
* Are you tired of social embarrassment, not getting noticed by that special someone, or looking older than you are?
* Do you want to rekindle romance, chew comfortably, and look 10 years younger?
* Do you want to have a bright, white, healthy smile, preserve your existing teeth, and live a longer, healthier, happier life?

Here's How Our Dental Implants Work

A dental implant is a biocompatible, man-made substitute to replace missing tooth roots. It is usually made of titanium, a space-age metal.

Implants come in various shapes and sizes to fit your situation. Most are cylinders placed in bone and allowed to heal undisturbed while bone grows around them, locking them in like an anchor. After a few months, the implants are used as a foundation for replacing the missing teeth.

Dental implants restore lost chewing ability, improve appearance, end embarrassment, and give real self-confidence to patients who need them. They are a real breakthrough.

The implant procedure itself is quite simple:

1. If there is a damaged tooth, we will painlessly remove it.

2. The actual implant is a small grooved or threaded titanium post which we plant into your actual jawbone. Another kind--one with a special base--can be attached on top of the jawbone, underneath your gum line. The thickness and type of bone at the implant's location will determine which style post should be used. Local anesthesia makes this a comfortable process.

3. Your body immediately begins to bond either kind of titanium post into place with bone or tissue. This is a very thorough process and may take from 3 to 6 months before the next step can begin. Your body does not reject these new materials but ties them in with great strength, as if they were a natural part of your own body. You may elect to wear a temporary denture during this binding process, if you choose.

4. Once the titanium implant is tightly in place, we attach a wider post to the titanium implant. We then attach your new tooth to this second post with one of the world's strongest space-age adhesives. Bonding is virtually forever!

5. You now have a new tooth. You are the only one who knows it's man-made. Implants are so comfortable you'll soon forget which tooth is the implant. Your body will think it's natural, and so will you.

Dental implants are the most stable and economically far-sighted solution to the very real problem of missing teeth. We have performed this procedure for satisfied patients over many years. My friendly staff also has in-depth training and great experience in this area. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Q: Am I a dental implant candidate?

Dental implants are a great option for people missing one, two, or even more teeth.

You may also be a candidate for dental implants if you have problems with existing crowns or bridges, or if you have loose dentures.

You will be able to smile a big, healthy, happy smile. And you will have a lot to smile about, too. Dental implants allow you to speak, eat, sing, and kiss. In other words, you can again do everything you want with total self-assurance.

United States denture wearers spend over $150 million a year just on adhesives in the futile effort to hold their dentures in place. With implants, you will not have to worry about loose dentures, an inconsistent fit, or other embarrassments such as unpleasant taste, bad breath, or poor appearance.

Q: Do implants have other effects on my health, different from other treatments for tooth loss?

Yes. In addition to improving your self-esteem, dental implants will also make a big difference in your overall physical health and appearance.

As a result of losing one or more teeth, you inevitably lose mass in your jaw. This affects the overall skeletal structure of your face. It not only changes your profile, but also may result in thin lips, drooping muscles, jowls, or a “witch's chin”. Bone loss in the jaw affects the gums and ridges in your mouth as well as the muscles and nerves in and around the mouth.

These conditions, which are the inevitable consequence of tooth loss, are associated with a host of other problems. They range from increased tongue size, to looseness of remaining teeth, to loss of sensation, to several very painful conditions.

These conditions may only be avoided through use of dental implants, because implants can halt and even reverse the bone loss that results from losing teeth.

Q: How do dental implants prevent bone loss?

Bone needs stimulation to maintain its form and density. That is why astronauts lose bone mass while they are in space: Their bones lack the stimulation that results from the everyday resistance to gravity. The bone in your jaw is constantly reinforced by the force applied by your teeth.

The teeth transmit force to surrounding bone, so when you lose a tooth, the lack of stimulation results in bone loss.

Dental implants are inserted into the jawbone in place of missing teeth. Then other restorations are attached to a post placed inside the implant. When you chew, the implant acts like the root of a tooth--it transmits force to the jaw and stimulates the bone.

It is as if implants "trick" the bone into thinking there is still a tooth present. By transmitting the natural forces of chewing to the jaw, implants increase bone density. Dental implants have been proven not only to stop bone loss, but in some cases actually to reverse bone loss and restore the health of the jaw.

Another health advantage that implants provide over conventional dental work is that implants prevent the necessity of having other teeth cut down in order to build the bridge or crown.

Q: Can I still eat my favorite foods with implants?

Yes. Implants are remarkably strong, and they stay put, unlike removable dentures. You can eat and enjoy whatever you wish--everything from apples to deep-fried anything. The maximum bite force of a traditional denture ranges from 5 to 50 pounds. Almost one-third of denture wearers are able to eat only soft or mashed foods, and 50 percent avoid many foods. 17 percent claim that they chew more effectively without dentures! By contrast, patients with implant-supported restorations may increase their bite force by 85 percent within two months of completing treatment, and by 300 percent after three years. Implant-supported dentures and bridges function similarly to natural teeth. In addition, dental implants do not experience decay, root issues, or hot/cold sensitivity. When you have a dental implant, you can floss and brush as you do with your own teeth.

Q: Do implant procedures cause pain?

Relax. In most cases these procedures produce very little if any discomfort. In fact, many patients do not use any pain pills. Your decision to use implants will help you to avoid much pain and discomfort in the long term. Given the overall health care benefits, you should not deny yourself proper treatment out of fear of pain. We are highly trained and equipped to provide you with appropriate treatment including any pain medicines you need.

Q: What if I have further questions?

We expect you will. As you learn about dental implants, it’s natural to have more questions. Just ask and we’ll be happy to address every single one.

If dentistry has been difficult for you, that part is over! You can relax!

Dentistry of just 10-20 years ago was absolutely Stone Age compared to dentistry today in our office. We recognize that old, ineffective, painful techniques stopped so many people from having a beautiful smile and healthy teeth for life.

And we have done something about it! Our system uses new, proven techniques and technology to make your visit easier, faster, and more comfortable.

Our technology creates a better dental experience

We have an understanding of what the typical fearful or anxious patient experiences, and exactly how to eliminate those issues. If this describes you, you'll be comforted first by a special friendly manner that puts you at ease.

Then there is the matter of getting numb. We use a unique, virtually painless numbing method that is surprisingly easy to experience.

We will offer you a blanket to keep you warm. At any time we'll give as brief or detailed an explanation as you would like about what we find, what we do, and why. This full explanation helps you know what to expect.

If you need something extra in order to feel comfortable, we can administer oral sedation to take the "edge off".

Competence you can count on

Comparatively few dentists have had the hands-on training and experience to be able to perform dental implants at the high level we do.

"Implantology", as this art and science is called, requires specialized knowledge, procedures, and equipment.

For years our patients have referred friends to us for our expertise, friendly communication, and ability to get results.