A Close Look at How Implants Work

Feb. 23, 2007, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills -- George Washington no doubt would have given his eye teeth to replace his wooden teeth with dental implants. Unfortunately for our founding father, these dental marvels weren't available until some 170 years later.

In the 1960s, the Swedish initiated the first process of placing small, titanium cylinders or screws into a jawbone to serve as anchors for artificial teeth.

Originally criticized, the new implants proved to be far more practical than previous procedures that placed blades into the jawbone with protruding heads or the subperiosteal implants placed on top of the bone, between the bone and gums. The latter methods still are used but the screws or cylinders are far more popular and practical.

The new implants work best in the mouths of healthy people who don't smoke, have no abusive oral habits and practice good oral hygiene. In fact, their function is nearly equal to that of original teeth. In severe cases where people are unable to wear conventional dentures, the patients have experienced greatly improved chewing while appearing normal.

PROCEDURE
In most cases, Dr. Anthony Mobasser and his team can perform the entire procedure in just one or two visits.

•  During the first appointment, Dr. Mobasser opens the gum tissue and implants a screw-like titanium iis placed into the bone. It then melds with the original bone, as the bone cells grow into its surface.

•  At the second appointment, Dr. Mobasser makes a small hole in the gum tissue, exposing the implant. A healing cap is placed over the implant and the dentist placed a head onto the implant body. After the gum tissue heals for a short time, the dentist places artificial teeth, or a prosthesis, onto the implant.

Once Dr. Mobasser has fully implanted the artificial teeth, they will appear and function as well as, or even better than, the original teeth.

LEARN MORE
Call top cosmetic dentist Dr. Anthony Mobasser today at 1.310.550.0383 or email us to schedule an appointment and learn more about the science of implants.