Treatment
Dental Implants
A missing tooth replaced at the root, so it holds like your own. Planned digitally, placed by a specialist, finished to match the smile around it.
An implant is a small titanium post placed into the jawbone to take the place of a missing tooth root. Once it has integrated, a custom ceramic crown is attached to it. Unlike a bridge, it does not lean on the healthy teeth beside it. Unlike a denture, it does not move. It is the closest dentistry gets to giving a tooth back.
We begin with 3D imaging so the position, angle, and depth are planned before any surgery happens. Dr. Orest Fragopol, our implant specialist, places the implant, and then it is left to integrate with the bone over several months. When it is ready, Dr. Amera designs and places the final crown, matching the shade, translucency, and gum contour to the teeth on either side.
A missing tooth is not only a gap. The neighboring teeth drift, the bite changes, the bone in that area gradually recedes, and chewing quietly reorganizes itself around the absence. An implant stops all of that. It also lets you stop thinking about it, which patients tell us is the part they did not expect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Dental Implants.
Anyone missing one tooth, several teeth, or all of them, including patients currently wearing a partial or full denture that has never felt secure. Implants are also used to replace a tooth that cannot be saved, in which case the extraction and the implant plan are considered together from the start.
More comfortable than most people expect. The placement itself is done under local anesthetic and is generally described as easier than an extraction. Having a specialist place the implant and a cosmetic dentist finish the crown means neither half of the work is a compromise.
The surgery is usually about an hour. The waiting is the long part: most implants need three to six months to fuse with the bone before the final crown is placed, and cases involving grafting take longer. We will give you a realistic timeline and, where appropriate, a temporary solution so you are never walking around with a visible gap.
Implants need enough healthy bone to anchor into, so some patients need a graft first. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes both affect healing and success rates, and we will talk about that openly. Insurance coverage for implants varies widely between plans, so we verify your benefits and present the full investment before you decide.
Expect some swelling and tenderness for two to three days, managed easily with over-the-counter pain relief and a few days of softer food. Most patients are back at work the next day. We see you a week later to check the site, and then at intervals through the integration period so nothing is left to chance.
Get Your GLOW On
Your smile deserves this kind of attention
A boutique practice in Aliso Viejo, built around smile design, comprehensive care, and the kind of unhurried attention that makes dentistry feel different. We would love to meet you.