Dental Implants in Santa Ana, California

Rebuild your smile with custom-made dental implants at Santa Ana Magic Smile.

Rebuild your smile after tooth loss by working with the team at Santa Ana Magic Smile. Custom-made and precision-placed, our dental implants can restore a beautiful, confident smile.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are medical-grade titanium screws place directly into the gums. There, they fuse to the jawbone and can provide an anchor for several kinds of tooth restoration. The most common use for dental implants is to support a single new tooth (or crown), filling a gap in your smile.

The Advantages of Dental Implants

Long-lasting (or even permanent) benefits
Extremely durable and stable
Minimal dietary restrictions
Natural look and feel

How to Get Dental Implants

Getting your own dental implant does involve a process, but our patients agree that it is worth the wait. From consultation to final implant placement, the process takes about 5 to 8 months. The steps include:

Consultation

We meet with each patient to explore their treatment options. Before proceeding, we want to ensure dental implants are right for you.

Bone Grafting

Not all patients will need a bone graft. However, if you have insufficient bone mass, a simple bone graft can rebuild your jawbone to support a dental implant.

Implant Placement

We surgically place the titanium screw into the gum and close the gum. From here, you will need to let the surgical site heal before moving to the next step. While you heal, the implant will integrate with your bone.

Abutment & Impressions

The abutment will serve as the bridge between the implant and the crown (tooth part). Once it is placed, we can take impressions of your teeth to use in making the crown.

Crown Placement

Once your crown arrives from our lab, you can come in for a fitting. If everything looks perfect, we permanently affix the crown to the abutment. After that, your smile is once more complete, and you can walk out smiling.

Dental Emergency? We got you covered.

We are open 5 days a week, including Saturday and evening appointments. Same Day appointments available.

Dental Implants FAQs

Are dental implants right for me?

Dental implants are best suited to patients ready for a longer process and who need to replace a single tooth (or a couple of teeth). Larger restorations may better suit dental bridges or dentures.

What are the different types of dental implants?

Dental implants are typically divided into four categories: endosteal, subperiosteal, zygomatic, and mini implants. Your dentist will examine your jaw and gum health to determine which type is best suited for you.

How long does the dental implant process take?

The entire process of getting dental implants, from the first consultation to having fully functional artificial teeth, can take 4 to 8 months. The exact timeline depends on your oral and general health, and how fast the implant fuses with the jawbone after the surgery. During the first couple of visits, your doctor will examine your oral health, create a treatment plan, and prepare you for the implant placement procedure. Once the implant is placed, you will need to allow 4 to 6 months for it to fuse with the jawbone and become stable, after which the crown can be attached to it. If, in preparation for dental implant placement, you require additional procedures, such as tooth extraction or bone grafting, the entire process is likely to take 3 to 6 months longer.

What materials are dental implants made of?

What most people think of as a dental implant consists of three main parts: a screw-like post (the implant itself), a crown, and an abutment that connects the crown and the post. The screw-like post and the abutment are most commonly made of titanium, a very durable and biocompatible material. Depending on the budget and medical considerations, the crown can be made of several different materials, such as porcelain, porcelain-fused-to-metal, zirconia, or less often, resin composite.

How long do they last?

The implant itself should last a lifetime. For many patients, a porcelain crown should last over 15 years.

How much do dental implants cost?

The cost of a dental implant can vary. We provide a personalized, commitment-free quote during your consultation. We also offer several financing options to make care more accessible.

Will insurance cover the cost of dental implants?

Insurance generally will not cover the cost of dental implants. They may do so if the implants are deemed medically necessary.

Is getting a dental implant painful?

The dental implant procedure is performed under anesthesia and should not cause any pain. After the procedure, you may experience mild discomfort as your mouth heals, but this is typically manageable with over-the-counter pain medication.

How long is recovery from dental implant surgery?

Patients typically complete the initial stages of healing in the first two weeks following dental implant surgery. Full osseointegration can take up to 8 months.

Do dental implants look natural?

Dental implants look incredibly natural in the mouth. Your dentist will carefully match the shape, size, and color of the implant’s crown to blend with the rest of your teeth, so no one will be able to tell you have a dental implant.

Are dental implants better than dentures or bridges?

Dental implants are considered the most sophisticated method of dental restoration today and are typically superior to dentures and bridges. Firstly, since dental implants are permanently affixed in the mouth, they provide superior stability and up to 100% of natural chewing force, while traditional dentures, for example, typically provide only around 25% of natural chewing force. Also, dental implants are the only method of tooth replacement that helps prevent jaw bone density loss by stimulating the bone similar to the roots of a natural tooth. As a result, dental implants also prevent changes in tooth alignment, bite, and facial structure that can be caused by tooth loss.

What is the success rate of dental implants?

Dental implants have a high long-term success rate. With proper preparation and post-procedure care, many people have successful outcomes. If you maintain good oral hygiene, visit your dentist regularly, and address arising issues in time, your implants are likely to serve you for decades. Typically, implants survive for 10 to 15 years and longer. Some general health issues, such as uncontrolled diabetes or osteoporosis, can lower success rates by affecting bone healing and increasing the risk of infection.

Do you offer same-day or All-on-4 dental implants?

Typically, before the implant placement surgery, patients require a thorough oral health examination and careful preparation and planning, meaning that you can not have dental implants right away during your first visit to a dental office. Additionally, implants often require a step-by-step process, with the post (the implant itself) being placed first and the crown later, when the post fuses with the bone. Such an approach helps ensure that the implant procedure is successful and complication-free.

If you would like to learn more about the types of implant restoration we offer or the timeline of the procedure, do not hesitate to contact our office at 714.465.5543.

Book Your Appointment

Call our office to set up an appointment with a leading dentist in Santa Ana. Rebuild and rediscover the joy of a full smile with dental implants.