What are dental implants?

Dental implants replace your natural tooth roots. They’re placed beneath your gum line during an outpatient procedure and your jawbone grows around them over time. 

Because dental implants fuse with your jaw, they’re the sturdiest and longest-lasting tooth replacement option. Implants provide a base for crowns, a fixed bridge, or snap-on dentures.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

Dental implants offer various advantages, including:

• Convenience
• Durability
• Easier biting and chewing
• Improved speech
• Confidence

Dental implants also improve your oral health. By replacing missing permanent teeth, you can reduce the risk of other issues, like gum recession, bone loss, and persistent bad breath.

What does getting dental implants involve?

At Ontario Chino Dental Center, getting dental implants takes 6-12 months and a series of at least three appointments.

First appointment

Before recommending dental implants, your provider conducts an oral exam and takes oral X-rays to assess the health of your gums and jaw. If you don’t have gum disease and there’s enough bone to support the implants, your provider administers a local anesthetic and places a number of titanium posts beneath your gums.

Afterward, they write you a prescription for pain medication and antibiotics and provide aftercare instructions.

Second appointment

Three to six months later, when the implants finish integrating with your jaw, you return to Ontario Chino Dental Center. Your provider takes digital impressions of your mouth and sends them to a dental laboratory. Then, they connect a metal piece, called an abutment, to each implant.

Third appointment

When the dental laboratory finishes your crowns, bridge, or snap-on dentures, you return to the office for the final time. Your provider connects your restorations to the dental implants, polishes them, and provides care instructions. You leave with a fully restored smile and can eat your favorite meals right away.  

How long do dental implants last?

With regular preventive maintenance, dental implants often last a lifetime. To keep your implants in optimal condition, the providers recommend brushing and flossing daily and visiting Ontario Chino Dental Center every six months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning.

To prevent damage to your implants, avoid bad habits like chewing on ice, biting your nails, or opening plastic packaging with your teeth. If you mountain bike or play contact sports, wear a mouthguard.

If you’re interested in getting dental implants, make an appointment at Ontario Chino Dental Center by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool.