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Dental Implants in Santa Monica
If you're missing one or more teeth, everyday things like eating a crisp apple or smiling in photos can suddenly feel awkward. Maybe you’re tired of dentures that never sit right or just want something that feels like your own teeth again.
That’s where dental implants come in. They offer a sturdy, lasting solution to bring back your bite and your smile.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is essentially a man-made tooth root. It’s a small post, usually made of titanium, that a dentist places in your jaw where the old tooth used to be. Once it heals, it holds a new tooth called a crown firmly in place.
This setup includes three parts:
- The implant (the root that goes in your jaw)
- The abutment (the middle piece that connects)
- The crown (the part that looks and acts like a real tooth)
Over time, the implant fuses with your bone, which makes it incredibly stable, far more than bridges or dentures.
How to Know If You Might Need One
- You’ve lost one or more teeth and want a permanent replacement.
- You’re frustrated with dentures that shift or make eating difficult.
- You don’t want to grind down healthy teeth to support a dental bridge.
- Your jawbone is still healthy enough to support an implant.
- You’re willing to maintain good oral hygiene to keep your new tooth in great shape.
- You’re looking for a solution that’s built to last for decades, not just a few years.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Other tooth replacement options just cannot compare to the benefits that dental implants provide:
Appear natural
Contemporary implant crowns are designed to closely match the size, shape, and color of your natural teeth. Even your dentist may have difficulty determining which tooth is the implant once it is in place.
Feel like real teeth
Keep Your Jawbone Healthy
Damage Free
What to Expect: The Implant Process
Getting a dental implant takes some time, but each step is important for the long-term success of the treatment.
- Consultation
Your dentist takes a close look using X-rays or scans to make sure implants are a good fit for your mouth.
- Extraction (if needed)
If you still have a damaged tooth in the spot, it may need to be removed first.
- Bone Support
If your jawbone isn’t thick or strong enough, your dentist may recommend a bone graft first to build it up.
- Placing the Implant
The implant is placed during a short procedure. It heals over several months as the bone grows around it.
- Attaching the Abutment
Once the implant is stable, a small connector is added to support the crown.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your jawbone is too weak to support the implant, your dentist may recommend a bone transplant first. It promotes the growth of the region and serves as a solid foundation for the implant.
