Missing one or more teeth can affect your confidence, oral health, and ability to enjoy everyday activities like eating and speaking. Dental implants offer a permanent, natural-looking solution that restores both function and aesthetics. Unlike temporary fixes, implants integrate with your jawbone to provide stability that can last a lifetime with proper care.
For Costa Mesa residents seeking exceptional dental care, Newport Beach Dental Center provides advanced implant solutions just a short drive away in Newport Beach. Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, combines her extensive training as a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry with a biomimetic approach that prioritizes preserving your natural tooth structure whenever possible. This commitment to conservative, patient-centered care extends to every aspect of implant treatment, from initial consultation through final restoration.
Achieve your dream smile with cosmetic dentistry and flexible financing that makes transformation affordable.
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically placed into your jawbone to serve as artificial tooth roots. Once the implant fuses with the bone through a process called osseointegration, we attach a custom-made crown that matches your natural teeth in color, shape, and function. This creates a seamless restoration that looks, feels, and functions like your original tooth.
The three-component system includes the titanium implant post, an abutment connector, and the visible crown restoration. According to a ClinicalTrials study, dental implants exhibit approximately 95% survival at five years and roughly 90% at 10 years, making them one of the most predictable tooth replacement options available. This exceptional success rate reflects advances in implant materials, surgical techniques, and our understanding of bone biology.
Most adults with one or more missing teeth can benefit from dental implants, provided they have adequate jawbone density and healthy gums. Ideal candidates are in good overall health, maintain excellent oral hygiene, and have realistic expectations about the treatment process and timeline. Even if you’ve been told in the past that you’re not a candidate, advances in implant technology and bone grafting techniques have expanded treatment possibilities.
We assess several factors during your consultation to determine candidacy. These include bone volume and density at the implant site, gum tissue health and thickness, proximity to anatomical structures like nerves and sinuses, overall medical history and medications, and oral hygiene habits and commitment to maintenance. Conditions like diabetes or osteoporosis don’t automatically disqualify you but may require additional planning to ensure successful outcomes.
Patients with insufficient bone density may need bone grafting procedures before implant placement, which adds time to the treatment but significantly improves long-term success.
The implant process typically unfolds in several stages over several months, allowing proper healing between phases. Your journey begins with a comprehensive examination including digital imaging and treatment planning, during which we create a detailed roadmap for your restoration. This planning phase is crucial for positioning implants at optimal angles and depths.
During the surgical placement appointment, we create a precise opening in the jawbone and insert the titanium implant. Most patients report minimal discomfort during this procedure, especially when performed under appropriate sedation. The healing period that follows, called osseointegration, typically takes three to six months as the implant fuses with surrounding bone tissue.
Once integration is complete, we attach an abutment connector during a minor follow-up procedure. After your gums heal around the abutment, we take impressions for your custom crown fabrication. The final step involves cementing or screwing the permanent crown onto the abutment, completing your restoration.
Implants require similar care to natural teeth, including brushing twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and flossing around the implant crown and abutment. Regular professional cleanings and examinations allow us to monitor implant health and address any concerns before they develop into problems. Most implant failures occur due to inadequate home care or missed professional maintenance appointments.
We recommend avoiding habits that can damage implants, such as using teeth to open packages, chewing ice or hard candy, and smoking, which significantly increases implant failure risk. While implant crowns resist staining better than natural teeth, maintaining good oral hygiene protects the surrounding gum tissue from inflammation that could compromise implant stability. With proper care and regular dental visits, implants can function successfully for decades.
Implants provide numerous advantages over traditional bridges and dentures. They prevent bone loss in the jaw that naturally occurs after tooth loss, maintaining facial structure and preventing the sunken appearance often associated with missing teeth. Unlike bridges that require grinding down adjacent healthy teeth for support, implants stand independently without affecting neighboring teeth.
The stability of implants eliminates the slipping, clicking, and dietary restrictions associated with removable dentures. You can eat, speak, and laugh with confidence, knowing your restoration won’t shift unexpectedly. Implants also don’t require messy adhesives or nightly removal routines. From a practical standpoint, investing in implants often proves more cost-effective long-term than repeatedly replacing bridges or dentures every several years.
Costa Mesa residents don’t need to travel far for exceptional implant care. Newport Beach Dental Center offers convenient access to advanced restorative dentistry performed by Dr. Sharbash, whose credentials as a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine reflect her commitment to comprehensive, evidence-based care. We approach each case with attention to both functional restoration and long-term oral health.
Our biomimetic philosophy emphasizes minimally invasive techniques that preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible while achieving optimal results. Whether you’re missing a single tooth or need full-arch restoration, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique needs and goals. To learn more about dental implants or schedule your consultation, contact us today.
