Who is the right candidate for dental implants?

Dental implants are recommended for most adults, and have been successfully placed in over 95% of patients between 18 and 90 years, who have lost one, several, or even all their teeth. We will examine your case and determine your suitability for the procedure before progressing with the treatment at our Dreamland Dental practice in Bellflower.

What would disqualify me from getting implants?

There are very few medical or dental conditions that could prevent a successful dental implant placement. For patients with severe bone tissue loss, we may recommend bone grafting to ensure that you have sufficient bone tissue to integrate with the titanium implant, and subsequently provide strong support for your replacement teeth. If you have a medical condition or taking medications that may affect bone healing, we will discuss your case during the consultation.

Is the dental implant procedure painful?

Considering that implants are placed surgically, there will be some discomfort after the procedure. With the use of local anesthesia and sedation, there’s virtually no pain during the treatment. Moreover, most patients are pleasantly surprised at how minimal and short-lived the discomfort was, and any post-operative discomfort can be easily managed with medication.

How long does the dental implant treatment take?

The actual dental implant placement takes between 1 and 4 hours depending on the number of implants and complexity of your case. After the surgery, the implants need 3 to 6 months to integrate with the jaw bone, underneath your gums. During this healing period, you can wear a removable denture or bridge to function normally.

In the second phase of your treatment, the dentist will uncover the implants from under your gums and attach an abutment, or an attachment that will connect your replacement tooth to the implant. Your replacement teeth will them be custom-made and fitted. The fabrication and fitting of your new replacement teeth involves multiple visits to ensure that they are the right color, shape, size, and fit, to perfectly match with your remaining natural teeth.

The total treatment time should be between 5 and 8 months, or a couple of months longer if you require bone grafting before implant placement.

Read Martha Z.‘s review of Dreamland Dental & Orthodontics on Yelp

Dental Implants in Bellflower

Dental implants should last a lifetime, and you only need to brush and care for them like your natural teeth. Please contact Dreamland Dental & Orthodontics in Bellflower to schedule an appointment to discuss other concerns you may have.