Dental Implants

Our holistic approach to dental care ensures patients receive treatments that do more than improve their smile. We take your full health into account when recommending any treatment available. Dental implants prove one of the best treatments for delivering both cosmetic and functional health benefits to our patients. We are proud to offer custom-made dental implants at our Glendora office for patients experiencing tooth loss.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants specifically refer to medical-grade titanium posts inserted into the gums. However, it can also refer to the entire process for replacing a missing tooth. The implant post itself goes into the gums, where it naturally fuses with the jaw to create an impressively stable anchor. In most cases, this is used to attach an artificial tooth (or “crown”), which replaces a missing tooth.

Additionally, patients can have implants that attach to specialized dentures. These implant-supported dentures provide added stability while still being removable for ease of cleaning.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Exceptionally long-lasting results
Seamlessly natural look
No limitations to your diet
Prevent additional jaw bone loss
Prevent teeth from shifting

Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are an alternative to full implants. This downsized version measures less than 2.5 mm in diameter, notably smaller than a regular dental implant. However, their diminutive size doesn’t mean the results cannot be as effective for patients who require implants.

Advantages of Mini Dental Implants

Can be positioned quickly
Require no incision or stitches
Ideal for patients who cannot have surgery
Can use with existing dentures
Same-day benefits and usage

Are Mini Dental Implants Right for Me?

Since no incision or dental surgery is required for mini dental implants, they make an ideal treatment option for higher-risk groups, including:

Heart patients with recent surgery
People with a severe case of diabetes
Patients who prefer the lower denture to be firmer
Patients with a limited budget for other options

Regular smokers
Patients with blood clot problems
Patients having bisphosphonate treatments or medicines for osteoporosis

Dental Implants FAQs

How long do dental implants last?

Perhaps the greatest advantage of dental implants lies in how long they last. The implant itself (the post) should last for a lifetime. The crown (tooth part) can wear down eventually but should last about 10 to 15 years on average. If it begins showing signs of wear, you can easily replace it with a newly made crown.

Getting your crown to last will involve keeping up good dental habits. Some key steps to stick to include:

Brush twice daily; floss (at least) once daily
Attending check-ups and professional cleaning twice per year
Minimize intake of sugary or acidic foods and beverages
Treat any dental concerns as soon as they arise

What is the process for getting an implant?

Consultation: Meet with a specialist who will evaluate your case and make appropriate recommendations.
Implant Placement: Placing the implant post involves a quick surgical procedure.
Healing: It takes about 4–6 months for the implant to heal fully and fuse to the jaw. Once it does, you can come in and we place the abutment and take impressions of your teeth.
The Crown: Your last visit involves affixing the crown to your implant. Before you leave, we ensure the tooth fits properly and looks like a seamless part of your smile.

Are dental implants right for me?

Dental implants best suit patients who are ready for a multistep process but want long-lasting results. Additionally, they work best for patients only missing a single tooth or a couple of teeth. Theoretically, you could replace all your teeth with implants. However, such an approach is not feasible. For replacing multiple teeth, we may recommend dental bridges or dentures.

Patients with insufficient jaw bone mass may first need a bone grafting procedure, which we discuss below.

What is bone grafting, and do I need it?

Despite the intimidating name, bone grafting is a simple way to rebuild lost bone density. For dental implants to work, there must be enough bone mass for the rod to fuse to. When a patient is missing that mass, we can apply a grafting material directly to the bone. Over the following weeks to months, the jaw will respond by rebuilding mass over that area. When you have enough bone density, you can move on with the next step of the process.

How do the results look?

Our custom-fabricated crowns ensure your dental implants will look like a natural part of your smile. We custom-match the material to blend in seamlessly with your smile. The shape also matches that tooth’s counterpart, lending to a balanced and symmetrical appearance.

Schedule Your Appointment

Fill out our appointment form to set up your visit for a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Desai, our dentist in Glendora. Learn about the treatment and explore our various services to ensure your smile stays at 100%.