Dental Implants in Thousand Oaks
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Did you know…
Unlike your natural teeth, dental implants aren’t affected by tooth decay.
How it works: The dental implant placement and restoration process
The Initial Consultation
First, our Thousand Oaks dentist will meet with you to find out if dental implants are right for your oral health needs. They’ll perform a thorough exam of your mouth, including going over your x-rays and ensuring your jaw bone is healthy enough to support implants. Together, you and your dentist will decide if dental implants will provide the restoration your smile needs, or if your grin would be better suited to alternative restorative options.
Your Oral Surgery Treatment
Once your treatment has been approved, your dentist will schedule your oral surgery appointment and provide a detailed treatment plan. During the procedure, your dentist will make a small opening in your gums and place a small, screw-shaped titanium implant into your jaw. Your Thousand Oaks dentist will then clean and disinfect the area and suture it closed to begin the healing process.
Healing & Osseointegration
Once your implants have been placed, your gums will begin to heal right away. Most patients heal completely from the initial surgery in less than 2 weeks. However, the implant itself must be given time to permanently bond with the jaw bone through a process “osseointegration,” which can take anywhere between 3-6 months to complete.
Creating the Prosthetic
While your implant is bonding with your jaw, you’ll visit our Thousand Oaks office for a few follow-up appointments to ensure the healing process is going properly. Your dentist will examine your mouth and take impressions of your bite. These impressions will be sent to our trusted dental lab, where they will craft the custom crown, bridge, or arch of teeth that will eventually be fitted to your dental implant.
Applying the Restoration
Once the lab has sent over your completed prosthetic, and your implant has completely bonded with your natural bone, you’ll visit us again for your final appointment. During this visit, your dentist will complete the procedure by attaching the restoration to your dental implant, and permanently securing it with dental cement or another adhesive.
Maintenance & Aftercare
One of the major advantages to dental implants is that they don’t require specialized care. Just practice good oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily, and visit your dentist every six months for regular cleanings and oral exams. Keeping up good oral health habits can help your dental implant last a lifetime.
Dental Implant Options
Dental implants are a type of restorative dental treatment that replace missing teeth. The procedure involves drilling titanium or zirconium oxide posts into the jawbone. These posts contain prosthetic teeth attached to their ends using an abutment. Implants are the only restorative dental option that involves drilling into the jawbone. After drilling, they fuse with the jawbone and eventually become part of it.
Single Tooth Implants
Single tooth implants are the most-commonly used dental implant, and consist of two primary parts. The dental implant, or post, is a rod made of titanium and shaped like a screw. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is attached to the implant post, and is used to complete the restoration.
To place a single tooth implant, the post is embedded directly into the jaw, where it bonds permanently with the surrounding bone tissue. While the gum is healing, a dental crown is crafted, and is eventually attached to the implant post with an “abutment.” This dental crown will mirror the shape, function, and appearance of a natural tooth to give your smile a natural look and feel. Made from durable materials, single tooth implants can last for decades, and, unlike a partial denture, will never shift, or move around.
Full-Arch Implants
Full-arch implants are a secure, durable alternative to traditional dentures for those patients who are missing all, or most, of their teeth. By placing a series of 4-6 dental implants per arch, you can enjoy the look and function of a new smile that can stand the test of time.
These dental implants function like artificial roots that allow fixed dental bridges or a set of removable implant-supported overdentures to permanently bond to the jaw and gum line to restore your smile. Full-arch implants look and feel much more natural than traditional dentures, and will never shift or move when you eat or speak.
Mini Implants
A scaled-down version of regular dental implants, mini implants are about half the size of their traditional counterparts. They can be used to restore a single tooth or several, but mini implants are most often used to anchor a set of implant-supported dentures in the lower jaw.
Their smaller size makes the placement process for mini implants less invasive than traditional implants. Another advantage of their small size is that mini implants can often still be placed in your jaw even if it has been weakened by bone resorption after tooth loss.
Implant-Retained Dentures
For patients looking to permanently replace a full set of missing teeth, implant-retained dentures are among the most secure solutions available. After placing 4 or more implants in your jaw, the complete set of dentures is affixed to the anchors. Implant-retained dentures cannot be removed at home for daily cleaning, but that means patients with implant-retained dentures can brush and clean their smile like they would a set of natural teeth.
All-On-4
Patients who have lost all or most of their teeth can restore their smile with All-On-4 dental implants. By using just 4 implants, your entire upper or lower set of teeth can be restored in a single visit. All-On-4 is a much more permanent and natural-looking alternative to dentures at our Thousand Oaks practice, and is more cost-effective than replacing each tooth individually.
Did you know…
Dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime.
Types of Dental Implants
Endosteal Implants
These are the most popular type of dental implants consisting of screw-like posts that the dentist drills into the jawbone. The posts are placeholders that support prosthetic teeth, which replace your missing ones. These implants are usually recommended for patients with reasonably healthy gums and strong jawbones. The procedure takes a bit of time to heal, but once healed, the implants can last for 30 years or more.
Subperiosteal Implants
These are excellent alternatives to endosteal implants for patients with insufficient jawbones or who don’t want the invasiveness of endosteal implants. Unlike endosteal implants, subperiosteal implants aren't embedded into the jawbone. Instead, they’re installed under the gum tissue, above the jawbone. Although less invasive, subperiosteal implants have a lower success rate than endosteal implants.
Zygomatic Implants
Zygomatic implants are the rarest and most complex type of dental implant. With zygomatic implants, the dentist installs the implants in the cheekbone instead of the jawbone. The procedure is ideal for patients with insufficient jawbones. It has a high success rate and is a better alternative to grafting for patients with insufficient jawbones.
Have questions about implant dentistry? Find answers here.
How are dental implants made?
Dental implants are made of two main parts: the implant itself, which is a screw-shaped titanium “post”, and the restorative component, usually a dental crown and abutment. A wide range of post sizes are available to ensure every patient gets an implant that fits their smile perfectly. On the other hand, the restoration is a custom-made prosthetic. Once your dentist has completed the placement of your dental implant, they will create impressions of your teeth and gums to send to a dental lab.
The lab will use these impressions to craft a long-lasting dental implant restoration. Most are crafted out of porcelain or another durable composite material. Once the restoration is complete, the lab will send it back to our office, and you’ll come in for your final visit. Your Thousand Oaks dentist will complete the restoration by securely affixing your dental prosthetic to your implant.
How long do dental implants last?
Placed properly, and maintained with good oral hygiene habits, dental implants can last for decades. It’s very common for patients to keep their implants for the rest of their lives.
The restoration, on the other hand, may not last as long. Although restorations like dental crowns, bridges, or overdentures are made from durable materials, they are still exposed to regular wear from chewing and biting. Over time, restorations will likely need to be replaced to keep your smile healthy and functional.
Can dental implants get infected?
Although it’s a rare complication, dental implants can become infected. Known as “peri-implantitis,” a dental implant infection is generally the result of the implant not being kept clean or cared for properly after surgery.
To avoid peri-implantitis and maintain your oral health, carefully follow Dr. Woodall's instructions during recovery, and be sure to brush and floss regularly once your implant is healed.
Will dental implants stop bone loss?
Yes. Bone resorption, or bone loss, occurs when your jaw is no longer stimulated by the natural pressure that comes from chewing and biting. Losing a tooth stops this regular stimulation, causing the jaw bone to weaken over time.
Dental implants bond directly with the jaw bone, acting as artificial roots that transmit the force of chewing and biting into your jaw bone, providing stimulation and pressure to keep you from losing bone density.
Can dental implants be done in one day?
There are indeed several types of dental implants that can be completed in a single visit. The restoration will be a temporary appliance to keep your bite functional until you have finished healing from your dental implant placement surgery. With this temporary restoration, you’ll be able to speak and eat normally throughout the healing process.
Throughout the healing process, which usually lasts between 3-6 months, your Thousand Oaks dentist will schedule a series of follow-up visits, to monitor your progress and to take impressions of your teeth. These impressions will be sent to our dental lab, where they will be used to create your own custom-made restoration, which will be a more permanent, durable, and natural-looking prosthetic than your temporaries.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants Over Traditional Solutions?
The most significant benefit of dental implants is that it looks completely natural, making them the best replacement for your missing teeth. Furthermore, dentists customize your implants to match the natural shape, color, and even size of your remaining teeth to blend seamlessly with them.
These prosthetics also last a lifetime (upwards of 30 years) and require minimal maintenance. Traditional tooth replacement options typically require periodic adjustments and don’t last as long. Dental implants also improve chewing and speech because they mimic your natural teeth. Unlike traditional replacement options, you won't have to eat a restricted diet of soft food and liquids. You can also articulate words correctly with confidence.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Adults with strong and healthy teeth are excellent candidates for the procedure. However, you might need prior treatment if you have gum disease. Candidates from the procedure should also be non-to-moderate tobacco smokers. Nicotine in tobacco products constrict blood vessels, which reduces blood flow to the implant site. This disruption interferes with the proper healing and osseointegration of the implants.
The treatment may also not be ideal for individuals with jawbone osteoporosis. Fortunately, you can always opt for zygomatic implants or bone grafting to get your implants. Anyone with missing teeth is an excellent candidate for this procedure. The same goes for individuals with severely damaged teeth that are beyond saving. You’re also a good candidate for these prosthetics if you’re committed to a proper oral hygiene regimen to extend the lifespan of your implants.
Did you know…
