Dental Implants in Los Angeles
The short answer
A missing tooth replaced, root and all.
Dental implants in Los Angeles replace missing teeth with a small post set into the jawbone, topped by a custom crown. At Veneers & Co. Dental Group, Dr. Farahnik places implants himself, with a periodontist and oral surgeons on our in-house team. He plans each implant around the bone, gums and bite you have.
- Dentist
- Faraz Farahnik, DDS
- Training
- DDS, USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
- License
- California-licensed dentist
- Patients
- Patients travel from across the country and around the world.
Dental Implants
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that sits in the jawbone where a tooth is missing. The usual materials are titanium or a ceramic called zirconia. Over the following months the bone grows tightly against its surface, a process called osseointegration. Once that bond forms, the implant can hold a crown, a bridge or a full set of teeth. The FDA's consumer page on dental implants covers the benefits and risks of these devices.
The three parts of an implant tooth
- The implant sits in the bone, out of sight, and takes the place of the root.
- The abutment is a connector that rises through the gum and links the implant to the visible tooth.
- The crown is the part you see and chew with, made to match the shape and shade of your other teeth.
Because the implant anchors in bone, it doesn't rely on neighboring teeth for support, the way a traditional bridge does.
Dental Implants
Who places implants at Veneers & Co.?
At our Encino dental practice, Dr. Farahnik places implants himself, with a periodontist and oral surgeons on our in-house team. That means the person who plans your new tooth also places the implant. When a case calls for a gum or surgical colleague, that care happens within the same practice.
Dental Implants
How do implants compare with bridges and dentures?
Dental implants replace the root as well as the tooth. They stand on their own and help preserve the bone around them. Bridges rely on the teeth next door, and removable dentures rest on the gums.
Each has a place; your mouth, health and preferences decide which fits.
| Implant crown | Traditional bridge | Removable partial denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support | Anchored in the jawbone | Crowns on the neighboring teeth | Rests on gums and clasps to teeth |
| Effect on neighboring teeth | Likely left unaffected | Healthy teeth are reshaped for crowns | Clasps grip them |
| Bone where the tooth was lost | Helps keep the jawbone from shrinking | Bone can shrink over time | Bone can shrink over time |
| Removable? | No | No | Yes, taken out to clean |
| Healing before the final tooth | Up to several months for the bone to grow around the implant (sometimes teeth are placed the same day) | Not needed | Not needed |
| Surgery | Yes | No | No |
Dental Implants
What can implants replace: one tooth, several, or all of them?
Dental implants scale from a single tooth to a complete arch. One implant can replace a single tooth, and several can replace a group of teeth. Full-mouth implants can replace every tooth. Dr. Farahnik will explain in your written plan how many you need and why.
- A single implant crown replaces one missing tooth without touching the teeth on either side.
- An implant-supported bridge spans a gap of several missing teeth in a row. Implants at each end anchor it instead of natural teeth.
- An implant-retained overdenture is a removable denture that clicks onto a few implants. It stays put while you eat and talk, but you can still take it out to clean.
- A fixed full-arch bridge replaces every tooth in the upper or lower jaw. A small group of implants holds the new teeth in place. All-on-X
If you wear a denture now and it slips, ask about the last two options. Many people move from a loose denture to a more stable solution in stages.
Dental Implants
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
Most adults missing a tooth can be candidates for dental implants. The main requirements are enough healthy bone, or the option to rebuild it, and healthy gums. You also need general health that allows minor surgery and normal healing.
Things that need extra planning
- Smoking or other tobacco use, which can slow healing and lowers the success rate of implants
- Poorly controlled diabetes, or another chronic illness that may interfere with healing
- Untreated gum disease. Implants need careful daily cleaning and regular dental visits to help prevent disease around them.
- Your medications and medical history. Dr. Farahnik reviews these before recommending an implant. He also asks about medicines that affect bone, past radiation treatment to the head or neck, and grinding or clenching.
What if I don't have enough bone?
Bone shrinks after you lose a tooth, sometimes enough to make placement difficult. A bone graft can rebuild the area so the implant has enough support. In the upper back jaw, a sinus lift adds bone beneath the sinus floor.
Treatment, step by step
What happens during dental implant treatment?
Dental implant treatment in Encino unfolds in four stages: planning, placement, healing and then the final tooth. Each stage has its own visit, and some cases add an extraction or graft at the start.
Exam, imaging and plan
Dr. Farahnik examines the area and your bite and takes X-rays. Dr. Farahnik may use a three-dimensional scan of the jaw, known as a cone beam CT, to assess the bone and nearby structures before surgery.
Removing a failing tooth, if needed
If the tooth is still there but can't be saved, it comes out first. Depending on the site, the implant may go in at that same visit or after the area heals.
Placing the implant
Dr. Farahnik numbs the area with local anesthesia and surgically places the implant in the jawbone. It will act as an anchor for your new tooth. He then closes the gum over or around it.
Healing and integration
The bone needs time to bond with the implant before it carries chewing forces. This can take up to several months. During this period you may wear a temporary tooth, and Dr. Farahnik will ask you to chew carefully on that side.
The final tooth
Once the implant is stable, Dr. Farahnik attaches an abutment and takes impressions or a scan. The lab makes your custom crown to match your teeth. Dr. Farahnik fixes it to the abutment with a screw or dental cement and adjusts your bite.
Your first step is a conversation.
Faraz Farahnik, DDS · USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
Dental Implants
What is recovery like after implant surgery?
After dental implant surgery, soft foods, cold foods and warm soup are usual while the implant heals. Dr. Farahnik will give you aftercare instructions for your situation. They cover what to eat, how to keep the area clean and how to manage discomfort.
Call (818) 658-9285 if bleeding doesn't slow with pressure or swelling increases after the first few days. Also call if you develop a fever or the implant feels loose. Dental emergencies
Dental Implants
What are the risks of dental implants?
The risks of dental implants include infection and an implant that fails to integrate with the bone. Inflammation around the implant can also develop later on (peri-implantitis). Other possible complications are numbness from nerve irritation in the lower jaw, sinus problems in the upper jaw, and a crown or screw that loosens. Careful planning, good home care and regular visits help lower the risk.
If an implant doesn't integrate, Dr. Farahnik can usually remove it, let the site heal and place a new one later.
Dental Implants
How do I care for a dental implant?
Care for a dental implant like a natural tooth, and then some. The crown can't decay, but the gum around it can become inflamed. So daily brushing, cleaning between teeth and regular professional cleanings matter.
- Brush and floss every day, paying attention to where the crown meets the gum.
- Clean the implant and the teeth around it regularly, as Dr. Farahnik shows you.
- Keep regular dental visits so Dr. Farahnik can check the gum and bone.
- Wear a night guard if Dr. Farahnik prescribes one; it protects teeth and implants from grinding forces.
- Tell us right away if the implant feels loose or painful.
How long an implant serves depends heavily on this care, on your general health and on whether you smoke.
Cost & insurance
How much do dental implants cost?
The fee for dental implants in Encino depends on how many teeth you replace and what's needed to prepare the site. Dr. Farahnik works with all budgets and price ranges.
Insurance
We accept all PPO insurance plans.
Dr. Farahnik works with all budgets and price ranges.
What affects the cost?
Key factors are extractions, bone grafting or a sinus lift, and imaging. The number of implants, the type of abutment and crown, and any temporary teeth during healing also count. You'll receive a written treatment plan and fee after your exam.
Financing
Financing is subject to each lender's terms and approval.
Questions
Frequently asked questions about dental implants in Los Angeles
Are dental implants safe?
Implants are a long-established, widely used way to replace teeth. Like any surgery they carry risks, including infection, problems with healing and, rarely, injury to nearby nerves or sinuses. Careful planning with X-rays and a review of your health keeps those risks low.
Can an implant be placed right after a tooth is removed?
Sometimes. Depending on the bone and gums at the site, an implant can go in at the same visit as the extraction. Often the site heals first, or Dr. Farahnik places a bone graft to help preserve the area.
Can I get dental implants if I smoke?
Smoking doesn't automatically rule out implants, but it slows healing. It also raises the risk that an implant won't integrate or will develop problems later. Stopping, or at least cutting back around the time of surgery, improves the odds.
Do dental implants look natural?
They can. The visible part is a crown made to match the size, shape and color of your neighboring teeth so it blends in. Implants are closely connected with the gum and bone around them. So the health of those tissues also shapes how natural the result looks.
Can implants get cavities?
The implant and crown can't decay, but the gums and bone around them can become inflamed and infected, a condition called peri-implantitis. Daily cleaning and regular checkups are just as important as with natural teeth.
Am I too old for dental implants?
Age alone is rarely the deciding factor. Overall health, bone quality, medications and your ability to keep the area clean matter more. Dentists generally don't place implants in children and young teenagers whose jaws are still growing.
Can implants replace several teeth or a whole arch?
Yes. A few implants can support a bridge that replaces several neighboring teeth. A small group of implants can also anchor a full arch of fixed teeth, an approach often called All-on-X.
The dentist
Who will place your implant?
Dr. Faraz Farahnik places dental implants himself at our Encino practice. He earned his DDS at USC in 2018. Meet Dr. Farahnik
- Education
- UCLA, with honors · DDS, USC, 2018
- Practicing
- Practicing dentist since 2018
- Languages
- English · Farsi
Your first step is a conversation.
Faraz Farahnik, DDS · USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry
Begin
Missing a tooth? What should you do next?
Bring any recent X-rays you have, a list of your medications, and your questions. You'll leave knowing whether an implant suits you, what else could work, and what each path involves.