How Long do Dental Implants Last?

When properly cared for, your teeth should last a lifetime. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case due to things like:

• Improper oral hygiene habits
• Lack of access to quality dental care
• Genetics
• Trauma

These things can cause tooth loss- which can ultimately lead to a variety of oral and overall health problems. The good news is, at Calm Dental we offer several options for tooth replacement, including dental implants.

In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about this tooth replacement procedure.

Dental implants are referred to as the “gold standard” of tooth replacement because they look, feel, and function more like natural teeth. Standard implants consist of 3 pieces: implant screw, abutment, and crown.

The implant screw is inserted into the jawbone. The jawbone will heal around and fuse with the screw, securing it in place and providing stability and strength to the artificial tooth or teeth.

The abutment is what connects the screw to the crown. The crown is the piece that is visible above the gumline.

There are several things you need to know before getting dental implants:

• First of all, dental implants are the most expensive tooth replacement option. On average, dental implants cost around $5,000 per implant. Some dental insurance providers classify this as a cosmetic, and therefore elective, procedure and will not cover it. On the other hand, some providers acknowledge the benefits of implants over other solutions and will cover a portion of treatment.
• Next, implant placement is a fairly invasive oral surgery. You will want to make sure that the dentist you choose has the necessary experience and expertise to successfully complete the surgery.

There are also several things you should know about the recovery process:

• First of all, the process of getting dental implants is long and can take a minimum of several months to a year or more for full healing. However, once you have healed, you will have a full set of fully-functioning teeth.
• Proper oral hygiene is critical for implant success, especially during the initial stages of healing. You will need to brush and floss twice daily and use alcohol-free mouthwash to remove bacteria and plaque from around your implants and any remaining natural teeth.

If you are missing one or more teeth and you are in or near Los Angeles, CA, schedule your consultation with Dr. Don Solooki at Calm Dental. He believes that dental care should be affordable and painless, and he works closely with his patients to help them understand and practice proper oral care habits.

We also have two other dental professionals on staff:

• Dr. Edon Hirt, endodontist
• Dr. Glenn Roeder, periodontist

When you schedule your first appointment, you can visit the website and download your new patient paperwork. This will ensure that the first visit goes as smoothly as possible.

We are located on Olive Avenue in Los Angeles. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:40 AM to 6:00 PM. In addition to dental implants, we offer may general and family dentistry services as well as cosmetic and restorative treatments, orthodontic treatments, and more. We work with the entire family to ensure oral health for life.

The team at Calm Dental understands that dental services can be expensive. We strive to make things more affordable by accepting a variety of dental insurance providers, offering specials for patients who do not have dental insurance, and offering financing options.