Dental Implants

Playa District Dental

Erik Ligans, DDS

Cosmetic Dentist located in Los Angeles, CA

If you’re missing permanent teeth, dental implants can restore your smile as well as your chewing and biting abilities. At Playa District Dental, in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Dr. E (Erik Ligans, DDS), and the team offer a wide range of implant services, including dental implant placement, restoration, and bone grafts. Call the office today to schedule an appointment.

Dental Implants Q & A

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small titanium posts that provide a sturdy, supportive base for oral restorations like crowns, bridges, and implant-supported dentures. 

Dental implants are unique in that they don’t rely on your existing teeth for support. Instead, Dr. E places them into your jaw during an outpatient procedure. Over time, your bone extends around each implant, fusing them in place.

Can anyone get dental implants?

Dental implants are usually well-tolerated, but they aren’t for everyone. If you have gum disease or not enough jaw bone to support the implants, Dr. E might recommend periodontal treatment like scaling and root planing or a bone graft. 

During a bone graft procedure, Dr. E implants a small piece of synthetic bone into your jaw. The material encourages the growth of new, healthy bone tissue, strengthening your jaw, and providing adequate support for your implant.

Other factors that may complicate dental implant treatment include high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease. If you’re living with any of these conditions, make sure to let the Playa District Dental team know. These issues won’t prevent you from getting implants, but they can increase your risk of surgical complications.

What does getting dental implants involve?

Getting dental implants typically takes multiple appointments spaced over the course of six months to a year.

At your initial appointment, Dr. E conducts an oral exam and asks about your goals for treatment. He then takes digital X-rays to assess the health of your gums, jaw, and alveolar bone.

If your gums and jaws are healthy, Dr. E administers a local anesthetic. Or, if you suffer from dental anxiety, he might recommend sedation dentistry. Regardless, once you’re comfortable, Dr. E places one or multiple dental implants into your jaw. 

The number of implants you receive depends on how many teeth you’re missing and the type of restoration you need. Following implant placement, you return home for a few months while your mouth heals.

After the implants fuse with your jaw bone, you return to Playa District Dental. Dr. E uses a digital intraoral scanner to take impressions of your mouth. He sends your impressions to a laboratory that crafts your bridge, crown, or implant-supported dentures. If you only need one or two crowns, Dr. E manufactures them on-site with the milling machine.

A week or two later, you return to the office for your final appointment. Dr. E attaches the restoration to the implant. He polishes your teeth, assesses your bite, and sends you home with a list of care instructions.

To see if you qualify for dental implants, request a consultation at Playa District Dental. Call the office to schedule an appointment today.