If you’re considering dental implants in Covina, CA, chances are you have quite a few questions.
How does a dental implant work? How long does the process take? Will you need a bone graft? Can an implant replace just one tooth? And what happens if you’re missing several teeth?
I’m Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, and these are important questions to ask before deciding how you want to replace a missing tooth.
Dental implants can provide a long-term solution for missing teeth because they are designed to replace both the visible tooth and its missing root. Depending on your needs, implants can be used to support a single crown, a bridge, or a larger restoration when multiple teeth are missing.
But dental implant treatment is not the same for everyone.
Your oral health, available bone, number and location of missing teeth, medical history, and goals all play a role in determining which treatment options may be appropriate.
Here are five things I think you should know before scheduling a dental implant consultation in Covina.
When people begin researching dental implants in Covina, it’s easy to become confused by all the different terminology.
A complete single-tooth dental implant restoration generally involves three primary components:
The Dental Implant:
This is the post that is surgically placed in the jawbone and functions much like the root of a natural tooth.
The Abutment:
The abutment is the connector between the implant and the restoration above it.
The Dental Crown:
This is the visible portion of the restoration, designed to look and function like a natural tooth.
Depending on your individual situation, treatment may also involve diagnostic imaging, an extraction, bone grafting, temporary restorations, or other procedures.
That’s why the first step is determining exactly what your mouth needs.
We’ll evaluate your individual situation, explain the treatment being recommended, and make sure you understand what is involved before moving forward. And if you’ve been putting off replacing a missing tooth because you’re worried about cost, implants are available for as low as $160 down and $160/month.
A dental implant consultation gives us an opportunity to determine whether an implant may be appropriate for you and discuss the treatment options available for replacing your missing tooth.
A dental implant needs adequate bone for support.
After a tooth is lost, changes can occur in the jawbone where that tooth used to be. The longer a tooth has been missing, the more important it may be to evaluate the available bone before determining whether an implant can be placed.
Think about building a house. Before you start choosing the countertops and cabinets, you need to know that you have a strong foundation.
Dental implants work on a similar principle.
Depending on what we find during your evaluation, additional treatment may be recommended before or in conjunction with implant placement.
This could include:
Bone Grafting: Bone grafting may be recommended when additional bone volume is needed to support an implant.
Sinus Augmentation: When replacing certain teeth in the upper back portion of the mouth, the amount of available bone beneath the sinus may need to be addressed.
Tooth Extraction: If a damaged or failing tooth is still present, it may need to be removed before it can be replaced.
Not every dental implant patient needs these procedures.
A dental examination and appropriate diagnostic imaging help us determine the condition of the area and what may be needed before an implant is placed.
There is much more to implant dentistry than simply replacing the part of the tooth you can see.
Before recommending implant treatment, we need to evaluate the structures beneath the gums as well.
When appropriate, 3D imaging such as a CBCT scan can provide detailed information about the jawbone and surrounding anatomical structures.
This information can help us evaluate questions such as:
This is why planning is such an important part of the dental implant process.
The goal is to gather the information needed to create an individualized treatment plan rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
If Mom is looking for more than whitening, cosmetic dentistry offers options to enhance her smile while keeping it natural.
Cosmetic treatments can address:
Options like bonding and veneers can create subtle, elegant improvements that look natural and refined.
One of the misconceptions about dental implants is that every missing tooth automatically requires its own implant.
That isn’t necessarily the case.
Dental implants may be used in several different ways depending on how many teeth are missing and where they are located.
For example, implants may be used to support:
Patients who are missing most or all of their teeth may also encounter terms such as All-on-4®, All-on-6, or full-arch dental implants while researching their options.
These approaches use a carefully planned number of implants to support a larger restoration rather than placing an individual implant for every missing tooth.
The appropriate number of implants and type of restoration depends on the individual patient.
Your bone structure, oral health, bite, remaining teeth, medical history, and treatment goals all need to be considered.
So instead of beginning with the question, “How many implants do I need?” I encourage patients to ask:
“What is the best way to replace my missing teeth based on my individual situation?”
That opens the door to a much more useful conversation.
If you’re thinking about replacing a missing tooth, your dental implant consultation is an important part of the process.
Before recommending treatment, we want to understand the bigger picture.
That may include evaluating:
This is also your opportunity to ask questions.
You should understand what is being recommended, why it is being recommended, and what you can expect during the process before deciding whether dental implant treatment is right for you.
This is one of the most common questions patients ask about dental implants.
The answer depends on the patient and the treatment being performed.
Dental implant treatment frequently involves several stages. After an implant is placed, time is generally allowed for healing and for the implant to integrate with the surrounding bone before the final restoration is completed.
If an extraction, bone graft, or another procedure is necessary, that may affect the overall treatment timeline.
In selected situations, certain steps may be performed during the same appointment. In other cases, a staged approach may be recommended.
During your consultation, we can explain what the anticipated process may look like based on your individual needs.
There is no single age that automatically determines whether someone can be considered for dental implants.
Many older adults begin researching dental implants because they have lost one or more teeth, are having difficulty with a removable denture, or simply want to understand what other tooth-replacement options may be available.
Instead of focusing solely on age, we look at the individual.
Your oral health, available bone, medical history, medications, and other clinical factors can all be important when evaluating dental implant treatment.
If you’re an older adult considering dental implants in Covina, a dental evaluation can help determine which tooth-replacement options may be appropriate for you.
Dental implants are placed in the jawbone to provide support for replacement teeth. Depending on the situation, an implant may support a crown, bridge, or larger dental restoration.
Yes. A single dental implant and crown may be an option for replacing one missing tooth, depending on available bone, the health of the surrounding tissues, and other clinical factors.
Yes. Dental implants may be used to support a bridge or another restoration designed to replace multiple missing teeth. An individual implant is not necessarily required for every missing tooth.
You may still be able to consider dental implant treatment. However, changes in the jawbone can occur after a tooth is lost. Diagnostic imaging can help determine how much bone is available and whether additional procedures should be considered.
Not everyone needs bone grafting. Whether a bone graft is recommended depends on factors such as the amount and location of available bone and the type of implant treatment being planned.
Dental implants are intended to be a long-term tooth-replacement option, but longevity varies from patient to patient. Oral hygiene, gum health, smoking, medical conditions, bite forces, routine dental care, and other factors can affect the long-term health of an implant and its restoration.
Age alone does not determine whether someone may be considered for dental implants. Oral health, available bone, medical history, medications, and other individual factors are important considerations.
Jeffrey L. Cohen, DDS serves patients in Covina, California, who want to learn more about their options for replacing missing teeth. A consultation allows Dr. Cohen to evaluate your oral health, discuss your goals, and determine which treatment options may be appropriate for you.
When you are considering dental implants, you should feel comfortable asking questions and understanding your options.
That begins with looking at more than just the space where a tooth is missing.
We want to understand what brought you in, what concerns you, what you would like to change, and what is happening throughout your mouth.
Maybe you recently lost a tooth.
Maybe you’ve lived with a missing tooth for years and have finally decided to do something about it.
Maybe several teeth are missing.
Or perhaps you’re simply doing your research and trying to figure out whether dental implants are worth considering.
Wherever you are in the process, the first step is getting the information you need to make an informed decision.
If you are missing one tooth, several teeth, or are exploring alternatives for replacing missing teeth, dental implants may be one option to consider.
The first step is determining what makes sense for your mouth.
Contact Jeffrey L. Cohen, DDS in Covina, California, to schedule a dental implant consultation. We can evaluate your oral health, discuss your options, answer your questions, and help you understand what the dental implant process may look like for you.
Jeffrey L. Cohen, DDS
204 West College Street
Covina, CA 91723
(626) 967-6453
