Dental Implants
Millions of people with tooth loss have had their lives transformed by dental implants. A dental implant is a tooth replacement that looks, acts, and functions like a natural tooth, allowing you to eat, speak, and smile confidently again.
Dr. Jeffrey Hsu recommends dental implants because they are the most successful long-term tooth replacement. We can replace one missing tooth, several missing teeth, or an entire arch of upper or lower teeth with dental implants.
If you are ready to move on from tooth loss, we would love to tell you how dental implants can benefit you. Please call Smile Again Periodontics in Temple City, CA to schedule an appointment to learn more.
Who Should Place a Dental Implant?
Dental implant placement is a highly technique-sensitive procedure, and you want to ensure it’s done correctly the first time. An experienced periodontist like Dr. Hsu is a specialist who places dental implants. With his skill, expertise, and use of leading-edge technology, Dr. Hsu carefully plans implant placement and takes pride in every dental implant case he does.
What Can I Expect from the Implant Procedure?
Dr. Hsu places your dental implant at our Temple City professional office, where we have leading-edge technology like 3-D cone beam scans. He fabricates custom surgical guides for precise dental implant placement and to avoid vital anatomical structures like sinuses and nerve pathways.
We perform implant placement under local anesthesia so that you won't feel anything. The entire procedure takes about an hour for a single implant, with more time allotted for multiple implants.
Are Dental Implants Successful?
Dental implants have an extremely high success rate of 97 percent; however, they can occasionally fail. Like teeth, dental implant teeth need to be cleaned and maintained regularly if you want to keep them.
At Smile Again Periodontics in Temple City, our policy is to treat or replace a dental implant at no charge within five years, provided you have routine follow-ups at our office.
Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Many people who want implants are good candidates. However, some may need an additional procedure to make implant placement possible.
Sinus Lift
Sometimes sinuses get in the way of dental implants. In this case, Dr. Hsu performs a sinus lift procedure to insert bone graft material to push it out of the way. After a few months of healing, there is sufficient space for dental implant placement.
Bone Grafting
When you lose a tooth, the bone in your jaw begins to shrink. Usually, the longer the tooth has been missing, the greater the bone loss, making the bone too thin to support a dental implant.
In this case, Dr. Hsu performs a procedure known as bone grafting to regenerate bone where it has been lost. After a healing period, there will be enough bone to place the implant.
What to Expect after Dental Implant Placement
Most patients experience only mild discomfort a day or two following implant placement. Instead of brushing, we'll give you a prescription rinse to keep the area around your implant clean.
We'll schedule you for follow-ups at our Temple City office at two weeks, one month, and 3-6 months after the procedure. At your 3-6 month visit, Dr. Hsu does a quick test to verify that the implant has integrated with the bone and is stable enough for restoration by your dentist.
A Word about Dental Implant Cost
Initially, they tend to cost more than other methods, but dental implants are an excellent investment because they also last much longer. Bridges and dentures require repair or replacement every 5-10 years, while implants have the potential to last a lifetime with excellent oral care and a focus on gum health.
Before Dr. Hsu begins the process, he'll schedule an in-person consultation to examine and discuss the various factors that could affect your final implant cost.
Call to Learn More about Dental Implants
Our dental team looks forward to helping you move past tooth loss to a happier, healthier smile. Please call us at (626) 988-9008 to schedule an appointment.
