Dental Implants

Tooth loss can have a significant impact on both a patient’s quality of life and oral well-being. Dental implants offer patients a way to replace missing teeth with a solution that can last a lifetime. Call us today if you are ready to restore your smile and improve your oral health, and you can set up your appointment for expert dental care at Smile Studio.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are made up of titanium posts that act as the dental root and a dental crown to replace a missing tooth. This makes dental implants one of the longest lasting tooth replacements available, with results that can last for decades. They also look natural, blending in seamlessly among your existing teeth.

Dental implants offer patients a comprehensive solution for missing teeth. Not only are dental implants incredibly durable, but they can also be customized to ensure that they assimilate naturally with the existing dental structure. Patients who choose dental implants will benefit from improved dental health and stability. Unlike other dental prostheses, dental implants are designed to be permanent, so they can provide long-term dental stability and improved oral health.

What Is the Process for Receiving Dental Implants?

At Smile Studio, our dental team is dedicated to providing dental implant procedures that are quick, comfortable, and successful. The dental implant procedure will involve a few separate appointments with our dental office as you progress along the process.

During the first appointment, your doctor will take x-rays of the affected area to determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants. If you are a suitable candidate, the dental implants will be surgically placed into the jawbone. After your dental implant has been surgically placed, it is then left for several months to heal and integrate with the jawbone to provide a foundation for your tooth replacement.

Finally, when the dental implant has healed and integrated with the jawbone, our dental team can create a dental crown that is customized to perfectly match the look and feel of your natural teeth. This dental crown can then be placed on top of the dental implant for a seamless restoration.

Benefits of Dental Implants

At Smile Studio, we understand how important dental implants are to our patients; which is why we strive to provide a comprehensive dental implant procedure with several benefits patients can expect. These benefits may include:

Improved dental health and stability
Prevents further dental issues, such as shifting teeth or an uneven bite
Ability to chew food with ease
Natural-looking results that blend in perfectly with your existing dental structure
Durable solution lasting for decades

Signs Dental Implants Are Right for You

If you’re looking for a dental solution that is long-lasting and offers natural results, dental implants may be the right choice for you. If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants can be used to replace them. However, patients with several missing teeth may find a better solution with dental bridges or partial or full dentures. Good dental implant candidates should also have healthy gums and sufficient jawbone structure to support the dental implant. But we also may offer bone grafting to build up jawbone structure to prepare patients for receiving their dental implants.

The first step is to set up your appointment and visit our dental specialist at Smile Studio. We can fully examine your situation and discuss what options may provide you with an ideal outcome. At every step, we provide full, transparent information about your procedure options, so you can always feel fully aware of your treatment process.

Caring for Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are designed to last for decades, but they also require proper dental care and cleaning to stay in good shape. Patients should brush and clean dental implants just as they would with any other teeth at least twice every day. It is important to maintain good dental hygiene habits, but we also recommend visiting us twice a year for routine exams to ensure that there are no other dental health concerns requiring treatment.

All-on-4®

If you are experiencing tooth loss or severe decay, All-on-4® implants could be the right solution. Trying to eat or speak with significant gaps in your mouth can be challenging and may cause you to avoid social situations. The All-on-4 implant treatment involves mounting all replacement teeth to four dental implants on the top and bottom of your mouth.

All-on-4 implants are available at Smile Studio in Upland and the surrounding area. You can restore your smile and once again enjoy the proper function of your mouth. Call our office today at (909) 981-6400 to schedule an appointment and learn more.

Why Patients Should Consider All-on-4

Instead of waiting for several months to get false teeth attached to the implants, patients can get them attached the same day. The process takes a shorter amount of time because it does not require bone grafts or a large number of implants. The All-on-4 implant process gives the patient natural-looking teeth and helps them feel at ease chewing, speaking, and socializing.

When patients are missing only a few teeth, treatments such as partial dentures, bridges, or traditional implants may be a better fit. However, people who come to our office for All-on-4 implants either have no teeth, or their teeth are failing. Also, if a patient has certain health conditions, a bone graft may not be recommended and this treatment may be a safer choice.

How the All-on-4 Implant Treatment Works

Replacing the top or bottom arch of teeth with standard dental implants would require an implant for each tooth. Alternatively, All-on-4 uses just four implants to replace the top or bottom row of teeth. The treatment works even if the patient has no teeth at all. As explained in this article by the AAID, the four implants support the entire arch of replacement teeth. Also, this treatment does not require bone grafting. The implants will fuse with the existing bone and become part of the jaw. Because some of the implants are set at an angle, they are longer and offer more support.

All-on-4 implant treatment is similar to getting regular implants. However, the procedure and recovery time is faster. First, the doctor will take impressions and X-rays and send those to a lab. At a subsequent appointment, our staff will use a local anesthetic to numb the patient and may have to remove any remaining damaged teeth. Then, the dental professional will insert screws into four places in the upper and lower jaw. These titanium anchors will help support the artificial teeth throughout the mouth.

After the Procedure

Our team will send you home with specific aftercare instructions that you should follow exactly for proper healing and prevention of infection. Instructions commonly include brushing with a soft bristle toothbrush, sleeping with your head elevated and eating only soft foods. Immediately following the procedure you may be sore, have swelling and light bleeding. As always, call our office immediately if these symptoms get worse rather than subside.

Patients should maintain proper care of the implants and their oral health. Just as with natural teeth, patients need to continue brushing and flossing daily. Regular dental checkups are essential. A dentist should routinely examine the implants and artificial teeth to ensure that everything looks the way it should.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

At Smile Studio, our highest priority is keeping your smile both healthy and whole. Our dentists and trained staff are excited to help you handle a wide variety of your dental concerns. Schedule your appointment for a complete, personalized exam to determine if dental implants are the right solution for you. We look forward to doing our part in keeping your smile complete and whole for a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Does insurance cover All-on-4 implants?

A. It is essential to check with your provider first. All insurance plans have different levels of coverage. Our office can work with you on financing and payment plans.

Q. What is the cost of All-on-4?

A. Patients can benefit from the fact that All-on-4 implants tend to be less expensive than traditional implants. Some people can expect to pay about half as much as with regular treatments. Our staff will discuss the cost before starting the treatment.

Q. What foods should people avoid after receiving All-on-4?

A. All-on-4 implants allow patients full function within hours of the surgery. It may take a little bit of time to get used to the implants. Our team may advise patients to avoid hard foods at first.

Q. Are there any side effects from the All-on-4 procedure?

A. After the surgery, there may be some soreness. Patients can take over-the-counter pain medication. Minimal bleeding may also occur on the day of the procedure.

Q. When can patients return to normal activities after the All-on-4 procedure?

A. Because our dentist uses anesthesia to numb the patient, the person should take time to recover. Patients should avoid heavy physical activity for the next day or two. Rest is critical during this time.

Q. How long will the All-on-4 procedure take?

A. The process is faster than getting traditional implants. Typically, the patient can expect the surgery to last an hour or two. Time frames vary from patient to patient.