Dental Implant Options

Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, CA

Dental implants are titanium roots that are fused to your jawbone, forming a sturdy foundation for tooth replacement. Implants appear and function just as you natural teeth, but without the risk of cavities and root canals.

Today, there are more than 1,300 types of dental implants available in various materials, shapes, lengths and sizes. Surface characteristics and coatings can also be modified so that your dental restoration looks so natural, you will not be able to tell it apart from your actual teeth.

The most common materials used in dental implants include:

• Titanium
• Aluminum oxide
• Surgical stainless steel

There are two main categories of dental implants—ones that are inserted into your bone, and ones that are designed to rest on top of your bone.

• Endosteal implants—these implants are placed directly into your bone. Because of their strength, these implants mimic you tooth’s natural root and can be used for different purposes. For example, a single pin inserted through your existing tooth can act as a stabilizer to strengthen your damaged or decayed tooth. An endosteal implant can also act as an anchor to hold in place a dental restoration such as dentures or a bridge.
• Subperiosteal implants—these implants are used if your bone has sustained atrophy and your jaw structure has become compromised. Superiosteal implants are light-weight, metal framework that fits over your remaining bone. This individualized design provides the equivalent of several tooth roots, and can be used in a limited capacity, or if many teeth are missing throughout your mouth.

The amount of remaining bone, and where that bone is located will determine what type of implant should be used. After the implant is surgically inserted, your mouth’s natural tissue and bone will grow around the implant—making it more secure.

If you have removable dentures, there is yet another type of implant that may be the right fit for you. An intramucosal insert attaches to the gum side of your denture, which fits snugly into prepared indentations in the roof of your mouth. These mushroom-shaped implants provide increased stability and gripping power. If you are tired of applying denture glue three times a day, an intramucosal implant may be just what you need.

If you are missing one or several teeth and you live in the Beverly Hills/Los Angeles area, please contact our office to schedule your free consultation. Dental implant surgery can help you obtain the smile you deserve. Our knowledgeable staff can answer your questions and help you determine how to best achieve your oral health goals. Please call today.