Dental implants have revolutionized the treatment options available to our patients with missing teeth. When removable dentures, partials, or fixed bridges might have been the only choices in the past, now it’s possible to enjoy permanent fixed restorations that look and feel closer to natural teeth than anything ever before.
What Are Dental Implants?
An implant is an artificial tooth “root” made of biocompatible materials. Most dentists use titanium, which is a metal commonly used in surgical procedures. At Smile Magic, we offer both titanium and metal-free zirconia implant designs that are made right here in California, by the world largest implant company, Nobel Biocare, where Dr. Nazir is an advisor. Zirconia is white, like your real teeth, so it’s also more aesthetic when visibility is a concern.
Benefits of Choosing Implants to Replace Missing Teeth
Compared to more traditional types of tooth replacement, implants offer:
- A 98% success rate
- The potential to last for the rest of your life
- Flexibility to replace as few or many teeth as needed
- An option that’s non-invasive to adjacent teeth
- Added bone health and density
- Prevention of bone shrinkage after tooth loss
- Maintaining natural tooth alignment and bite function
- Fixed solutions that mimic natural teeth as opposed to the older removable devices.
Because implants are extremely strong, they can bear more weight than even the healthiest natural tooth.
Before and After
Types of Restorative Options
Each of our implant restoration choices are custom designed in size, shape, and color to compliment your smile’s natural aesthetics. The ones you need will depend on how many teeth are missing. For example, you may want to select a:
Single Implant and Crown — An individual implant with an abutment and crown is the most lifelike type of tooth replacement available in modern dentistry. Because they are stand-alone prosthetics, implants mimic the design of natural teeth. As such, one with a single crown blends in with your smile so much that no one has to know you were ever missing a tooth to begin with.
Multiple Tooth Implant Bridge — Instead of wearing a partial denture, we can use pairs of implants to support 3-4 tooth dental bridges to replace all of the teeth at one time. The only difference is that your bridge is anchored on top of implants instead of natural teeth, allowing us to replace more teeth than what is possible with conventional bridges.
Removable Secured Overdenture — An overdenture is a traditional denture that clips over implants for added stability throughout the day. In some cases, we can even retrofit your existing denture to attach over 2-4 implant abutments. Overdentures are ideal for patients that are happy wearing a traditional prosthesis, but need a bit more security when talking or eating.
Permanent Implant Denture/Hybrid Design — Like an extended bridge, permanent implant dentures are a fixed prosthesis that follows the contour of your bite. But unlike conventional dentures, there is no “plate” or acrylic piece that covers the roof of your mouth. This frees up extra space, making it easier to eat and speak comfortably. As few as 4-6 implants can support a full arch prosthesis.
Planning Your Implant Surgery and What to Expect
Implant treatment requires a 3-dimensional approach to planning your procedure. We use 3D CT scanning equipment to create a virtual replica of your bone, surrounding teeth, nearby nerves, and blood vessels. Dr. Nazir also holds a master’s degree in oral surgery, and as such he has placed hundreds of implants over the years. This allows our Orange County implant office to have all of the resources necessary to plan and complete your surgery without having to refer you elsewhere for treatment.
After the surgical placement of your implants, you’ll need to wait 3-6 months for new bone to grow around and fuse to the implant, a process that we call osseointegration. Once full integration has taken place, we uncover the implant to affix an abutment and then the final restoration. In the meantime, you’ll have a healing prosthesis to wear so that you don’t have to go about with any missing teeth. In the case of the full mouth prosthesis, we can have your “teeth in a day”, after a couple of days of preliminary preparation.
Beneficial to Your Oral Anatomy
When a tooth is extracted or falls out, the bone in that area starts to shrink (resorb.) This can cause other teeth to drift inward and create a chain reaction throughout the mouth.
Placing an implant after losing a tooth can help you avoid bone loss and deterioration. In fact, it actually strengthens the bone around it, benefitting the overall stability of your adjacent teeth.
But more importantly, choosing implants to replace your missing teeth means that we don’t have to alter the anatomy of the teeth next to them, the way we would if you were getting a bridge. In those cases, even healthy teeth need to have some of their enamel removed for the fixed restoration to fit over them. With implants, we can keep virgin teeth healthy and intact, making them better for your smile as a whole.
Care and Maintenance of Your New Smile
Your new smile is just as easy to clean and care for as your natural teeth. Because of their design, implants are meant to be brushed and flossed like the rest of the teeth in your mouth. Fixed restorations like bridges or dentures may need a few extra aids such as floss threaders or water flossers to keep clean. You’ll want to continue scheduling a six-month cleaning and exam visit like you did before implants.
Selecting the Most Experienced Implant Dentist in Orange County
Dr. Ray Nazir has been practicing dentistry for over 30 years and has a master’s degree in oral surgery. His extensive training and education enables us to provide complete start-to-finish implant treatments in our Anaheim Hills, Newport Beach, and Tustin locations. Most dental offices only provide the restorations, with surgeries being referred out-of-office to a specialist. By providing comprehensive implant therapy in one location, we make the process easier and more affordable for our patients.
Our 5 year dental implant warranty program*
Your Implant will function as planned, or we will remove it and replace it – absolutely FREE.
Many of our local OC surgeons offer this courtesy, but not many will not do so in writing. We do!! Additionally, in those rare instances when an implant does fail, corrective or reparative surgery such as bone and/or soft tissue grafting is often needed. Most surgeons will charge extra for this service, even though the cause of the failure is often and commonly due to their own surgical mistakes. If one of the implants we have placed fails before being made functional, we will replace the implant and also perform any necessary corrective procedures at no charge to you.
Get your implant examined and x-rayed annually for 5 years – Totally FREE
We stand by our services. An annual examination of your implant with x-ray images, of the implant/implants if required, will be performed at no charge for the 5 years following implant placement. This commitment to excellence applies across all our offerings and services, and to enables trouble free follow up for all of our implant related guests. .
Your Implant will remain healthy and functional for 5 years or we will fix it
Although uncommon when filtered and selected appropriately, some implant patients can develop problems. This includes loss of bone or gum because of uncontrolled periodontal disease, overload, or other reasons. If a additional corrective surgical procedure is required to maintain the health of your implant, it will be billed according to the following warranty fee schedule (this does not include tooth or implant cleanings):
Year 1 — FREE
Year 2 — 80% discount of our regular fee
Year 3 — 70% discount of our regular fee
Year 4 — 60% discount of our regular fee
Year 5 — 50% discount of our regular fee
Conditions and Limitations*
If an implant fails to integrate (secure itself to the bone), before being loaded/placed into function, we will replace it at no charge, one time only. If an implant requires a repair procedure, it will be billed according to the warranty fee schedule, for one time only. An annual implant examination including x-rays or regular dental cleanings in our office (when recommended) is an absolute requirement for this warranty to apply. This warranty does not apply to smokers or to persons who have, or who develop, an uncontrolled systemic health problem, such as, but not limited to, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, severe osteoporosis, or any condition requiring long term steroid use. If smoking or a medical condition is suspected as the cause of implant failure or other complication that requires treatment, a medical examination and appropriate blood tests will be required for this warranty to apply.
Complimentary Implant Consultations
Smile Magic offers complimentary consultations to all new patients. If you’re curious about whether or not dental implants are right for you, we invite you to schedule a free visit with us to learn more. During your evaluation we can discuss if implants are appropriate and which restorative options might be the best choice for your unique needs.
Office Hours
Monday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday By Appointment Only
Sunday CLOSED