Dental Implants

You don’t have to live with one or more missing teeth. More than 180 million Americans have missing teeth, but Mojgan Hashemi, DDS, at Los Robles General & Cosmetic Dental Center in Thousand Oaks, California, offers dental implants to restore your smile and tooth functioning. Call the practice or book an appointment online today to find out if you’re a candidate for dental implants.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are the longest-lasting option to replace missing teeth. Implants are prosthetic teeth that replace the root and crown using an implant post and restoration. 

The implant post becomes your prosthetic tooth’s root and gets anchored into your jawbone to provide a durable foundation for your crown and stimulate the bone tissue in the jaw to maintain its health.

The implant restoration replaces the crown of the tooth, which sits above the gum line and may involve a single crown for a single missing tooth, multiple crowns, a dental bridge, or a denture.

Once in place, dental implants make it easier to bite and chew food while improving your smile and increasing your self-confidence.

What is the process of getting dental implants?

To determine if you are a candidate for dental implants, advanced cone-beam computed tomography technology is used to produce three-dimensional images of your teeth, jawbone, gums, and nerve pathways. If you’re a candidate for implants, surgery is scheduled to place the implant and start the process.

After your implant is placed, you’ll receive your dental restoration at a separate appointment.

How long does it take to get dental implants?

Dental implant treatment begins with surgery to place the implant in your jawbone. Once placed, your body requires several months to heal, allowing the post to integrate with your jawbone. After the healing period, Dr. Hashemi places the dental restoration (crown, denture, or bridge) on the implant post.

Why are dental implants better than other tooth replacement options?

Dental implants are designed as a permanent tooth replacement option. While removable dentures offer an affordable way to replace one or more missing teeth, they can cause discomfort or make it difficult to eat certain foods. Dental implants function the same as your natural teeth because they are securely placed and supported by the jaw.

In addition to providing functionality for eating, speaking, and chewing, dental implants help prevent oral health problems associated with missing teeth. When you are missing one or more teeth, your other teeth can move into the spaces left behind and cause crooked teeth that are difficult to clean.

Missing teeth increases your risk of clenching your teeth or grinding your teeth, both of which cause jaw pain and tooth damage.

Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to find out if dental implants can replace your missing teeth and restore your smile.