Dental Implants
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Steven H. Chang, DDS
Family Dentists & General Dentists located in Monterey, CA
If you have missing teeth, you know how difficult it is to chew, speak, and even smile with confidence. At their office in Monterey, California, Steven H. Chang, DDS, and his team can restore your smile with dental implants. These tiny titanium rods replace your tooth roots to hold your new replacement teeth in place. They allow your replacement teeth to look and feel just like natural teeth. To learn more, call the office of Steven H. Chang, DDS, or book an appointment online now.
Dental Implants Q & A
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that Dr. Chang and his team surgically place in your jaw. Thanks to their biocompatible properties, dental implants fuse to your jaw during the healing process to replace your tooth roots. The team can place them in your upper jaw or lower jaw. They’re ideal for single or multiple missing teeth.
Why would I need dental implants?
When you have missing teeth, the jawbone that used to support these teeth starts to shrink. This is called bone resorption, and it happens because the bone no longer has anything to hold. As a result, your face can start to sink and sag because your jawbone helps maintain your face shape.
Bone resorption can even lead to further tooth loss. If you wear dentures, they may become loose and uncomfortable.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth that can last a lifetime. Some of the most common benefits of dental implants are:
Appearance
Implants help maintain your face shape and restore your smile. They can help you look and feel confident about smiling, chewing, and speaking.
Improved chewing
Dental implants don’t sit on top of your gums like removable dentures. They connect to implants, so they feel as comfortable as your natural teeth.
Clearer speech
Missing teeth can give you slurred speech or a slight lisp. Once implants restore your teeth, you can speak more clearly.
Durability
In many cases, dental implants last for at least 25 years. With proper care, they may last for the rest of your life.
What is involved in placing dental implants?
Because dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth, they can take months to place. After your initial dental exam, Dr. Chang and his team take X-rays and digital scans of your mouth to plan your treatment.
If you don’t have enough supporting bone to hold your implants, the team may recommend a bone graft or sinus lift prior to implant surgery.
When you come in for your dental implant surgery, Dr. Chang and his team numb your mouth with an anesthetic. They use the VersaWave® laser to access your jawbone, rather than traditional drilling, for maximum comfort.
It takes 6-12 weeks to recover from dental implant surgery. Once your mouth fully heals, the team takes impressions of your mouth to create your single, multiple, or full-arch restoration. Depending on how many missing teeth you have, the team may recommend dental crowns, a dental bridge, or dentures.
At your final visit, Dr. Chang and his team connect your custom-made restoration to your implant to fully restore the look and function of your teeth.
Dr. Chang and his team guarantee your satisfaction during the dental implant process.
To schedule an appointment today, call the office of Steven H. Chang, DDS, or book a visit online now.