Implants

Please read along to see what amazing results can be achieved with dental implants.

HISTORY

Let’s talk about the history a bit: In 1952, in a modestly appointed laboratory in the university town of Lund, Sweden, Professor Branemark had a lucky accident—what most scientists call serendipity. Much to his irritation, Dr. Branemark discovered that it was impossible to recover any of the bone-anchored titanium microscopes he was using in his research. The titanium had apparently adhered irreversibly to living bone tissue, an observation which contradicted contemporary scientific theory.

To his curiosity, Dr. Branemark subsequently demonstrated that—under carefully controlled conditions—a titanium screw (a very strong and bio-compatible material) could be integrated into living bone with a very high degree of predictability, without long-term soft tissue inflammation, or ultimate fixture rejection. Branemark named the phenomenon osseointegration.

This is key, osseointegration. Please remember that name.

What is an implant and do we place implants in our office?

In our office we have been using dental implants for the past 20 years.The reason it is important to place the implants in the same office where they are restored with a crown is to know and plan the prosthetic (restorative) part.

Let’s start from the beginning. Not every broken tooth needs to be extracted. Dr. Joseph Goodman’s philosophy is always to “Respect the Tooth.” What that means is that Dr. Goodman will remove or extract the tooth only as a last resort. If there is a way to save the tooth, we will!

Unfortunately, it has become all too common that dentists extract teeth too fast and too easily and replace missing teeth with dental implants. Yes, indeed implants are easy, fast, predictable, beautiful, and fascinating. They look and feel like a natural tooth, but they are after all a last resort—at least in our office. Very few dentists put in the effort and time it takes to save a badly broken tooth. Extraction and dental implants are all too often performed in many offices.

Not at Dr. Joseph M. Goodman. We try to avoid extractions at any cost. But if the time has come and an implant is required, we can splace the implant (part 1) and restore the implant (part2) for you!

There are many tools available: A root canal, gum surgery, crown lengthening, hemisection (splitting the tooth in half and restoring the broken part, while the non-restorable part is extracted). That is impressive in itself: Dr. Goodman can extract the broken part of the same tooth and save and restore the part that is still good.

In any case, there may come a time when an implant is a must. In which case Jospeh Dr. Goodman offers dental implants in Beverly Hills using the latest techniques and state-of-the-art technology.

Teeth consist of a tooth portion (crowns) and a root portion. The root portion is under the gum and the crown portion is above the gum. A dental implant is a “root” replacement, usually made of titanium, or full biocompatible zirconia for our holistic patients.

Titanium is an amazing metal that is very biocompatible (not harmful to living tissue). It is used in dentistry as a screw and literally the dental implant is a metal screw. This means that after the implant is placed and you go home, nothing is visible other than the stitches. The implant itself is always buried under the gum and not visible to you. The implants are placed into the bone, below the gum level. Basically, replacing the roots of your teeth (see photo).

All implants today are root-form implants and are placed within the bone. “Root form” means they appear similar to an actual tooth root (see photo above). The jawbone accepts and osseointegrates with the titanium post. Osseointegration refers to the fusion of the implant surface with the surrounding bone.

This is the basis of modern dentistry: A titanium screw replaces the root system of the natural dentition. The screw can then support a denture, a crown, or a dental bridge.

Dental implant (silver gray) and dental roots.

Implant Prostheses, Implant Superstructure, and Implant Crowns and Bridges

ROUND HOUSE

If you would like to restore missing upper or lower teeth, we can do a round house for you.

You have 14 upper and 14 lower teeth, 28 teeth in total. If all your lower teeth are missing, we can place seven to eight implants on the lower jaw and connect them with an implant bridge containing 14 teeth. This avoids placing 14 implants and 14 single crowns for economic reasons. The more implants, the better. The crowns or bridges are screwed into the implants and are fixed, non-removable, and very secure!

Before: Patient missing upper teeth.	After: This patient flew in from Dubai and Dr. Goodman restored his smile with an implant supported prosthesis. He is very happy as you can see.

SINGLE TOOTH IMPLANT REPLACEMENT

Here is another case performed by Dr. Goodman. A patient is missing a single tooth. One implant was placed and restored with a single crown.

Before: Missing tooth no 9. implant placed by Dr. Goodman. The problem was that the gap was extremely wide and much wider than the next tooth, no 8. Restoring this tooth in the traditional way would not have resulted in a beautiful smile.	After: An implant crown and 5 additional porcelain veneers. This way the remaining teeth were made wider, and the gap was shrunk to a size that matches the next tooth, no 8. Matching veneers and implants is extremely difficult.

IMPLANT-SUPPORTED DENTURE, THE OVERDENTURE, ALL-ON-FOUR PROSTHESIS

Drug use, neglect, financial limitations, and poor oral hygiene can unfortunately lead to rotten and decayed teeth. It’s not always possible to place 8, 10, or more implants–either because a patient lacks enough healthy bone tissue or because it is financially prohibitive. In these cases, an implant-supported denture may be a better option.

Before: Damaged teeth requiring full mouth extraction.	After: All-On-Four overdenture.

The advantage of this system is that you can restore 14 upper or 14 lower teeth by attaching a full upper denture to only four (or preferable six) implants. If it is not possible to do more due to cost or due to bone limitations, this can be a very effective alternative.

A denture is connected securely to your implants. Because dental implants are attached (connected to) the denture, the denture is more stable and safer than just a denture without an implant. This system is removable or fixed. You can choose to sleep with the denture and wear it all the time. The removable denture can be taken out for easy cleansing once or twice a day.

Implant dentures have no palatal coverage. No palatal coverage allows for better articulation and comfort. Moreover, it allows the patient to eat and chew more easily and preserves taste sensation.

A full (traditional) upper denture (shown before) has full palatal coverage; thus the patient has limited taste sensation. 

A traditional upper denture. Full coverage on the palate.

 Implant denture as a comparison: A full upper implant-supported denture (shown above) has a “cut out,” and therefore is exposing the palate—a huge improvement for tasting food. This is an implant denture with no palate coverage. Only 4 to 6 implants are needed to replace 14 upper teeth.

There is much more to implants and implant restorations. Please call or text 310 860 9311 to inquire about the best cosmetic dental implants available anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots (usually made of titanium or zirconia) that provide a permanent base onto which artificial replacement teeth are placed. They are natural looking and can help recreate a complete, functional smile.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants consist of three main parts:

1) a biocompatible post (usually made of titanium or zirconia which is implanted into the jawbone, 2) an abutment, which is placed over the titanium post and connects the crown with the implant. The last part is 3) a crown, bridge or denture which screws onto the titanium post.

Tooth implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, a few missing teeth, or even a complete smile.

What are the risks of dental implants?

The dental implant procedure is considered surgery, and all surgical procedures come with some risks. The main risk with dental implant surgery is implant failure, which can happen if the jawbone doesn’t properly grow around the implant to secure it in place. This is called failed osseointegration, and it’s rare. Smoking, Diabetis and poor oral hygine may be a contributing factor.

Who is a candidate for dental implants?

Patients with healthy gum tissue and bone structures who are committed to good oral health practices are the best candidates for dental implants. Implants tend to be most successful in people with healthy jawbones, but it is possible to build up the jawbone using graft material.

Smoking damages gums and bone tissue, which is why we urge our patients not to smoke or to quit smoking. This helps ensure dental implants will last for many years.

How long does it take to recover after the dental implant procedure?

It can take 4 months for full osseointegration (bone healing) to occur after dental implants are placed. During this time, you can wear natural-looking temporary teeth. Once the bone has healed, Dr. Goodman will attach an abutment to the implant(s) and place the crown or bridge over it.

Can dental implants replace more than one tooth?

A dental implant can hold more than one tooth. This is called a “dental bridge.” For a single tooth, it’s called a “dental crown.” If you have several missing or lost teeth that need to be replaced, Dr. Goodman will create a customized dental bridge for you, based on the shape of your jaw and smile.

How do I care for my dental implants?

Caring for dental implants is just like caring for natural teeth. You should brush and floss daily to keep your new smile looking radiant. Flossing is especially important as it keeps your gums in good shape and helps prevent infection, which can cause teeth to loosen over time.

How long do dental implants last?

With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. Once dental implants have successfully integrated with the jawbone (a process called osseointegration), chewing should help stimulate bone regeneration, just as a normal tooth would. This process helps implants remain functional, and they should last for many years.

How much do dental implants cost?

The cost of dental implants varies based on the number of implants, their location, whether bone grafting is needed, the material used for the restorations, and other factors.

Dental implants are generally considered optional/ elective and are therefore not usually covered by insurance. Some insurance carriers will cover the crown or bridge portion of the procedure, however, so it’s worth contacting your insurance company to find out what they might cover.

You may be tempted to use a “discount dentist,” but placing dental implants requires skill and experience. Research the credentials of any dentist you’re considering very carefully, and don’t settle for anything less than the best.

Why Choose Dr. Joseph Goodman?

Placing dental implants requires skill and an aesthetic eye. You want an implant dentist who has the proper training, experience, and credentials to properly assess your situation and perform the procedure successfully.

Dr. Goodman has placed more than a thousand dental implants in Beverly Hills, CA and has helped many hundreds of satisfied clients at his state-of-the-art dental office.

Dr. Goodman is trained in all areas of modern dentistry but is particularly focused on reconstructive (prosthodontics) and cosmetic dentistry. Patients come from all over the world to see him and benefit from his exceptional skills.

You’re in good hands with Dr. Goodman and his dedicated team. Call today to schedule a consultation for the best dental implants in Beverly Hills.