Dental implants may be the right option for you if you are missing a single tooth or several teeth. Because dental implants provide the same look, feel, and function of natural, healthy teeth, many patients even forget they have dental implants. Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement solution that allows you to eat, speak, and smile with confidence!

Dental implants are a versatile solution to your oral health needs. They can replace a single tooth or even an entire arch of teeth. Having a missing tooth or several missing teeth can not only make you feel self-conscious about your smile but can also lead to other oral health complications such as bone loss and dental shifting. You may find your speech is also affected and you are unable to eat the foods you love comfortably. A huge advantage to dental implants is that they allow you to eat the foods you love, speak clearly and without difficulty, and smile naturally. In addition, dental implants can prevent bone loss and dental shifting while preserving your facial aesthetics. They are considered a healthy tooth-replacement option for patients who can undergo outpatient dental procedures.

Our expert oral surgeons are highly trained in placing dental implants from our office in Madera, CA. For more information and to schedule a consultation, contact our office. A member of our staff will be happy to assist you.

How do dental implants work?

First, a dental implant post is surgically placed beneath the gum tissue and into your bone. This creates the strong foundation that allows the dental implant to function just like a natural tooth. The dental implant post is composed of medical-grade titanium and will naturally fuse with your bone over time. An abutment piece is secured onto the implant post, and a crown is placed on top of the abutment. The results are beautiful, natural, secure, and best of all – permanent.

Why dental implants?

Dental implants offer several advantages over dentures and other tooth replacement options, including

Allowing you to eat the foods that you love
Preventing bone loss
Preserving facial aesthetics
Preventing dental shifting and bite problems
Providing a permanent and secure solution
Beautiful new teeth that look exactly like healthy natural teeth
Preventing the need for drilling on healthy adjacent teeth

To learn more about dental implants, schedule a consultation with one of our oral surgeons in Madera, CA. Our oral surgeons will determine the right treatment option that suits your specific needs and goals.

The Dental Implant Procedure

In general, the dental implant process requires two or three office visits: one consultation appointment, one surgery appointment, and a couple of follow-up appointments. If you need bone grafting treatment or extractions, or if you want immediate implants, then you may need more or fewer appointments.

Your consultation appointment will prepare you for your upcoming procedure and determine the exact treatment plan that is best for you. Your surgeon will examine your condition and review your medical and dental history. Scans will also be taken, and 3D guides may be created. You are encouraged to ask any questions that you may have at this time. Your consultation appointment is the perfect time to ask questions — your surgeon will inform you about your treatment plan and will help to make you feel comfortable about your upcoming procedure.

Your dental implants will be placed the day of the surgery. After anesthesia has been administered, your surgeon will lift the gum tissue and secure the dental implant posts into the bone. This creates the strong foundation for your permanent teeth. Your surgical sites will be sutured, and you will need to rest until your anesthesia has worn off. In general, the process lasts about 30–60 minutes for a single dental implant procedure and between one and three hours for multiple implants.

Although many patients find that they can resume their normal routines within a week or two, the healing period lasts several weeks after surgery. You may find that you need to follow a soft food diet to limit your chewing function during some or all of this time. Your dentist may fit and place a temporary set of teeth for you so that you won’t have to go without teeth as you heal. Your abutments and permanent teeth are secured onto your implants after your surgical sites have healed.