Burbank Implant Dentist on Extraction Defects…Relation to Dental Implants and Bone Grafts

Smile picture

Teeth are removed for several reasons, including periodontal (gum) disease, extreme decay, and for orthodontic reasons.  Once a tooth is removed, the shape of the ridge (i.e., the supporting bone and gum in which the tooth was situated and retained) changes. If there has been extensive bone loss, or if the tooth needed to be … Read more

Tony H. – Dental Implants and SInus Lift – The Patient Perspective

Panoramic xray of missing upper back molars

Tony is a patient that referred to me by another dentist in Burbank.  He was missing three back teeth and wanted to replace them.  He had a regular bridge that failed and said it had a bad smell too. Here is Tony on video sharing his experience.  The photos and x-rays of his dental implants are shown … Read more

4-Tooth Bridge Failure – Dental Implant Bridge Replacement

Xray of dental implant bridge

A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) appliance and is an older way to replace missing teeth.  There are several types of bridges. The “traditional bridge” is the most popular type and is usually made of porcelain fused to metal.  This type of bridge consists to two crowns that go over two anchoring teeth and … Read more

Immediate Front Tooth Dental Implant Example -(Difficult Case)

Front center implant tooth #9

***If you cant see the pictures in your reader, click the link to see this case series*** Here is a great example of a front tooth dental implant with gum shaping. Follow along: My patient from Burbank, California had a "dead" yellow tooth in the front.  It started to twist and move also. The x-ray … Read more

Front Tooth Bone Loss and Dental Implant Replacement

Smile picture

These x-rays tell the story: Her original two front teeth were in bad shape and had severe bone loss.  They were even loose! Both center front teeth were extracted and a bone graft was done.  The teeth were replaced with dental implants.   I was able to rebuild the lost bone.  She was told by her … Read more

Do I Need Custom Dental Implant Abutments?

molars replaced with dental implants

There is a lot of confusion with patients that have come to me for 2nd opinions. The question is whether or not their dental implants need custom abutments or not. I will try to make this as non-technical as possible. If you are confused, comment below. Most implants have three pieces. The implant that goes … Read more

Dental Implant Case Example For Back Teeth

Missing lower molars

This patient thought she could never have dental implants.  She was so fearful of the procedure. I used I.V. sedation anesthesia so she could sleep through the surgery. The x-ray shows that she is missing her lower molars on one side. She also has a cracked root canal tooth supporting bridge on the other side. Here is … Read more

Dental Implant Maintenance…OVER-DENTURE VS FIXED BRIDGE

Snap on overdentures

Fixed bridges are attached to your dental implants much like your natural teeth are connected to your bone. Because they are most similar to teeth, they do require some maintenance. Most importantly is your daily routine at home. You must brush and floss your implant fixed bridge. You will also need to have regular x-rays … Read more

Fixed Dental Implant Bridge vs. Implant Denture – What is the REAL Difference?

Fixed dental implant bridge

There is a common mistake that I hear from patients on a regular basis. Often times, I see patients for second opinions for dental implants to replace all of their teeth. They tell me they are having all their teeth removed and having a “bridge.” When I dig deeper or reference their paperwork, they are … Read more