Long Beach AND TORRANCE Dental Implant Supported Tooth Replacement

In the past, tooth replacement only addressed those parts of teeth visible above the gum line. Today, we’re able to replace both the roots and crowns of lost teeth. Dental implants are small, metal posts that mimic the root systems of lost teeth. By attaching prosthetic teeth to dental implants, Dr. Maha M. Hanna and Dr. Amanda A. Hanna are able to offer tooth replacement with increased stability and longevity. If you’ve lost one tooth or a full arch of teeth, contact our team to schedule an implant consultation in our state-of-the-art Long Beach, CA practice.

Implant Placement

The first phase of the dental implant tooth replacement process is the surgical placement of implant posts. In many general dentistry practices, this part of the procedure is referred out of the office. At Cherry Dental and PCH Dental, our dentists have completed advanced training in order to safely and effectively complete all aspects of the dental implant placement and restoration process in one convenient location. The implant placement procedure itself is fairly straight forward. We begin by making a small incision in the gums. Then, the dental implant post is inserted until it meets the jawbone. A protective covering is attached to the implant to keep the gum tissue in the appropriate shape to attach the replacement tooth or teeth to the implant posts. Over the course of several months, the implant post fuses with the jawbone and gum tissue mimicking the lost root structure. Once the dental implant has fused with the jawbone, patients return to our office where we’ll attach their replacement teeth.

Implant Retained Crowns & Bridges

Dental crowns and fixed bridges have been used for decades to replace one or more consecutive missing teeth. By attaching these restorations to implant posts, we’re able to provide the same high quality, natural looking and feeling tooth replacement solution without damaging surrounding healthy teeth. A single crown or two attached crowns can typically be supported by a single implant post. For three or four consecutive teeth, we will likely recommend attaching the fixed bridge to two dental implants, one at each end of the prosthetic.

Implant Retained Prosthetics

If you have more advanced tooth loss, we may recommend an implant supported partial or full denture. Like the traditional variety, implant supported dentures are crafted by connecting replacement teeth to a gum colored base that is crafted to fit between remaining teeth or snugly against the gum line. Rather than being held in position by metal clasps or suction, these dentures are attached to between four and six strategically positioned dental implant posts.

Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are just what they sound like – smaller versions of dental implant posts. Mini implants have a variety of uses. We may recommend mini dental implants to replace smaller teeth at the front of the mouth. It can be easier to create natural feeling restorations using smaller implant posts to support these teeth. Additionally, these implant posts are often a viable options for those patients who may not have adequate jawbone density to support a traditional dental implant post.

All-on-4

For those patients who have lost a full arch of teeth but who may not be eligible for traditional dental implant supported dentures, All-on-4 may offer a viable alternative. Rather than placing a series of implants vertically into the jawbone at strategic points, the All-on-4 method allows us to support the entire denture using the naturally denser part of the bone at the front of the jaw. Two implant posts are placed vertically to support the front part of the denture, and two posts are placed diagonally from the back of the denture to anchor into the front of the jaw.