Dental Implants in Beverly Hills: A Complete Guide, from One Tooth to All-on-4

The American Academy of Periodontology defines a dental implant as an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Most implants today are small titanium posts placed within the jawbone. Over several months the bone bonds to the implant surface, a process called osseointegration, and the implant then supports a crown, a bridge, or a full arch of teeth.

A finished implant tooth has three parts:

• The implant: the post in the bone that acts as the root
• The abutment: the connector that joins the implant to the tooth above the gum
• The restoration: a crown, a bridge, or a full-arch prosthesis

Unlike a removable denture, an implant tooth is fixed in place. Unlike a traditional bridge, a single implant does not rely on the neighboring teeth for support.

Sterling also offers mini implants for patients with limited bone. Which option fits depends on how many teeth are missing, the bone available, your bite, and your goals; more detail is on the dental implants and All-on-4 treatment pages.

The AAP describes the ideal implant candidate as someone who:

• Is in good general and oral health
• Has adequate bone in the jaw to support the implant
• Has healthy gum tissue that is free of periodontal disease

Many people who do not meet all three at first can still have implants after the underlying issue is addressed: gum disease can be treated, bone can often be rebuilt with grafting, and conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes can be brought under control first. That is why implant planning in a periodontal practice starts with the gums and bone. The implant candidacy guide covers each factor.

Bone shrinks after a tooth is lost, and gum disease may already have reduced it. When there is not enough bone to hold an implant securely, the periodontist can rebuild it. In a ridge augmentation, the AAP explains, the gum is lifted away from the ridge and the void is filled with bone or a bone substitute. In the upper back jaw, a sinus lift adds bone beneath the sinus floor to make room for an implant.

Grafting can add a separate stage and healing period before the implant is placed, or it can sometimes be done at the same visit. Read what bone grafting costs.

The total time depends mostly on whether grafting is needed and on how quickly your bone heals. The dental implant timeline guide explains each stage.

Implants have strong long-term evidence. A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies by Howe, Keys, and Richards estimated 10-year implant survival at 96.4% (95% confidence interval 95.2%–97.5%). Survival means the implant is still in place; it is not the same as being free of complications, and results in an individual patient depend on health, bone, and maintenance.

The main long-term risk is peri-implant disease, an inflammatory condition of the gum and bone around an implant that resembles gum disease around natural teeth. The AAP notes that implants, like natural teeth, need conscientious home care and regular dental visits to prevent it. A history of periodontitis makes that maintenance especially important.

Implant placement is a well-established procedure, but like any surgery it carries risks, and a good plan is designed to reduce them. The main ones are:

• Implant failure: the bone does not bond to the implant, or the bond is lost later
• Peri-implant disease: inflammation of the gum and bone around an implant
• Infection or delayed healing, particularly with smoking or poorly controlled diabetes
• Nearby anatomy: nerves in the lower jaw and the sinus in the upper jaw are mapped on imaging before placement

Careful planning with imaging, treating gum disease first, rebuilding bone where needed, and regular maintenance afterward are the main ways these risks are reduced. Your consultation should cover the risks that apply to your own case.

Implant teeth cannot decay, but the gum and bone around them can become inflamed in the same way as around natural teeth. The AAP recommends conscientious home care and regular dental visits to prevent peri-implant disease.

• Brush twice a day and clean around each implant daily, including under bridges and full arches
• Keep regular professional maintenance visits, where the tissue around implants is checked and cleaned
• Tell your dental team about bleeding or swelling around an implant early
• Avoid smoking, which affects healing and gum health

A bridge can replace a missing tooth faster but usually requires reshaping the neighboring teeth. A conventional denture is the least expensive way to replace many teeth but rests on the gums and can move. Implants cost more at the outset but are fixed, do not depend on neighboring teeth, and preserve the bone where they are placed.

Dental implants vs. dentures cost compares upfront and long-term costs side by side.

Implant cost depends on the number of implants, whether grafting or extractions are needed, the type of restoration, and imaging. Sterling provides a written plan that lists each stage and its cost before you commit. Dental plans vary in how they cover implants; Sterling is in-network with Aetna, Delta Dental, Guardian, and Humana and offers payment plans through CareCredit, Lending Club, and Cherry.

For more detail, read affordable dental implants in Los Angeles and visit insurance and financing.

• Which implant option fits my situation, and what are the alternatives?
• Do I need gum treatment, extractions, or bone grafting first?
• How many visits are involved, and what is the total timeline?
• Will I have temporary teeth while the implants heal?
• What does each stage cost in writing, and how will my insurance apply?
• Who places the implants, and who makes the final teeth?
• What maintenance will the implants need long term?

Periodontists are trained in both the surgical placement of implants and the health of the gum and bone that support them. That matters most when you have a history of gum disease, need grafting, or are considering a full-arch solution. Periodontitis is common, affecting about 4 in 10 U.S. adults aged 30 or older in 2009–2014 according to the CDC, so many implant patients need their gums assessed first.

Sterling Periodontics & Implantology is led by Dr. Mohamed Khaled, DDS, MSD, a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, at 9301 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 407, Beverly Hills. Call (310) 278-3666 or request a consultation.