- 1616 E 4th St #120, Santa Ana, CA 92701
- 1616 E 4th St #120, Santa Ana CA 92701
In years past, an individual with missing teeth had only two options, dentures or bridges. Now, however, because of advancements in prosthodontics, our patients have the option of obtaining a dental implant that is practically identical to its surrounding teeth.
Here at Smooth Dental and Orthodontics, we work together with implant specialists to fabricate implant crowns, and we are known for some of the best dental implants La Habra and Santa Ana have to offer. An implant crown is custom-made from ceramic material to mimic the appearance of an actual tooth and is often indistinguishable from the real thing. The result is a perfectly restored smile that, with proper care, will retain its strength and appearance for years to come.
Depending on your individual case you will need a particular type of implant. The different types of implants include:
Single dental implants are used when a single tooth is missing and needs to be replaced. Unlike a bridge a single dental implant does not need to be attached to the adjacent teeth. The post of the implant is firmly fitted into the jawbone to prevent it from coming loose. A validate candidate for a single dental implant is someone with strong gums and sufficient bone in the jaw. Dr. Elizabeth Tran will first give you an oral examination and X-ray to determine if you are a good candidate for a single dental implant and will then walk you through the procedure. The implant specialist will attach the titanium post to you bone which provides an anchor for the crown to be fixed onto. Next an abutment which looks like a small tooth is fitted onto the post and finally the crown is fixed over the abutment. The finished look is like that of a normal tooth and the gap is completely filled. A single dental implant leaves the adjacent teeth intact and does not cause them any damage.
If you are missing more than one tooth then you will require multiple dental implants. Again you will first get a full oral examination and X-ray to check your gums and bone structure. If you are fit for a dental implant the procedure will be performed. Multiple dental implants too do not require to be attached to adjacent teeth and leave these teeth untouched. Integrating the implant post into the jawbone helps to prevent the bone from being reabsorbed due to lack of use. The bone fuses around the implants holding them firmly in place. Just as with a single implant, abutments are attached to the posts and finally the crowns, which resemble the teeth perfectly, are attached. Both single and multiple dental implants take about six months or more to get completed. The reason for this long period is because the bone needs to fuse around the implant before the procedure can proceed any further. A short healing period is also required for the gums after the abutments have been attached.
When a tooth is lost, the bone that supports it loses its function. The body is very efficient and as much as possible will not waste blood supply and nutrients on a functionless bone. For this reason the bone which formerly supported the tooth starts to get reabsorbed by the body. When this happens there is insufficient bone left to be able to firmly fix an implant. In cases like this bone augmentation or bone grafting has to be carried out. Bone augmentation or bone grafting requires bone from either the patient or a donor source to be fitted into the jaw. The donor bone can either be natural mineral or artificially created. Once the graft is fitted into the jawbone a few months are required for the graft to take and the body to start regenerating more bone in that area. Only once sufficient bone has been formed and is strong enough can a dental implant be placed in the bone. At Smooth Dental Group we take immense care to make sure that the bone grafting is carried out carefully and precisely. The implant will only be fixed once we are absolutely sure that the newly formed bone has the capacity to hold on to it firmly.
As with all teeth, an implant crown will need to be properly cleaned and maintained in order to remain strong and healthy. Brushing at least twice a day and flossing thoroughly once a day are the minimum requirements. A professional cleaning by a dental hygienist is recommended twice a year, as with all natural teeth, to ensure that no plaque or tartar are allowed to build up at the gum-line.
It is also best to avoid chewing any hard foods or objects such as ice and hard candy. Patients with the habit of grinding their teeth may need to take additional measures to ensure that they don’t damage the implant crowns. In these situations, nighttime mouth guards are sometimes recommended.
If you are considering dental implants you can contact us and receive a consultation for some of the best dental implants La Habra and Santa Ana have to offer. Dr. Tran will answer any questions you may have about the procedure and advise you on your best options. We use the latest technology and equipment and our team is fully trained to provide the best possible and most effective dental care to all our patients.
Donavan Balan2022-10-27A very trustworthy dentist will always come backMaryann Patino2022-10-06I was referred to this dentist by a friend and was pleasantly impressed by the dentist and all her staff. Everyone was extremely professional and made sure to educate me on my dental work. I had to have deep cleaning and 1 tooth extracted. The dental staff kept me informed as to what to expect from each procedure and educated me on the proper care after each procedure. The dentist even called me at home after the procedures to see how I was feeling. !!! Another important feature was all the preventative education I was provided. I would definitely refer anyone to this dentist!!featureCelina Beaumont2022-10-04Happy with service and definitely I like the people 😀Yeimmi Aguirre2022-09-26Everyone is so friendly, understanding and patience, I really appreciate you all take an amazing care for us and make us feel so comfortable.Adolfo Hernandez2022-09-02My time here at smooth dental has been great.the doctors and staff are amazing and tentative I definetly recommend. Thank you for being caring!Bertha Amaral2022-08-31Una buena experiencia el personal super amable un super trabajo con mi dentadura totalmente recomendable 👍Arielle Gutierrez2022-08-31Friendly staff. Offer a variety of dental services -- my favorite being the cavity preventative medicine. Always go above and beyond.Evelyn Gutierrez2022-08-27Tuve la oportunidad de conocer gente muy agradable, me dan la confianza, y me explican detalladamente cada tratamiento, tienen mucha higiene, es un muy buen lugar para poder continuar con mis tratamientos.Abel Rodriguez2022-08-05All staff is great. And Richard did a great job on my cleaning! Thanks everyone!!
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Our philosophy of dentistry is to treat every patient in the manner that I would expect to be treated; with candor, respect, professionalism, and compassion.
Our philosophy of dentistry is to treat every patient in the manner that I would expect to be treated; with candor, respect, professionalism, and compassion.
