By Arthur Kezian

If you are searching for an implant dentist in Los Angeles, you are certainly not alone.  In fact, there are plenty of people around Southern California who are looking to restore their smiles and get rid of the insecurities surrounding their missing teeth.  That’s why a professional implant dentist is such a good find!

But how do you know if you’re dealing with the right one?  After all, your oral health isn’t something you can leave up to just anyone.

Before you spend all of the time and energy involved with getting Los Angeles dental implants, you need to make sure that your dentist is a good one.  Here are 4 questions to ask before you get started:

1.    How does your implant dentist explain the entire implant procedure?

A good implant dentist will explain everything in a way that makes sense – without a ton of technical jargon.  Remember, good oral health is a team effort!  If you don’t know what your dentist is talking about, you won’t get the best treatment.

Dental implants are tiny little pieces of titanium that are inserted into your gums.  Over time, they anchor themselves to your jaw bone and are covered with a crown that looks and feels like your natural teeth.  If your implant dentist can’t use conversational language like this, he may not be a good partner for you.

2.    How long is your dentist going to let your implants anchor?

All of your implants can be installed in one session; however, the process doesn’t end there.  Because they are artificial tooth roots, titanium dental implants need time to anchor to your jaw bone.  Usually, this takes 3-6 months.  In the meantime, your dentist can apply temporary tooth covers so that you get immediate cosmetic relief.  However, a good implant dentist in Los Angeles will not install a permanent crown until the implant is fully anchored to the bone.

3.    Is your dentist going to check your teeth and gums before installing dental implants?

Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants.  To see if they’re a good match for your mouth, a quality implant dentist in Los Angeles will do a thorough screening of your mouth right in the beginning.  By taking x-rays and CT scans, your dentist can make sure that your mouth is healthy enough for implants.  If it’s not, you can’t move forward.

4.    Is your Los Angeles dentist going to give you anesthesia?

Most of the time, a local anesthetic is enough to eliminate any pain that installing dental implants will bring.  However, if you are extra-sensitive, don’t be afraid to ask about sedation techniques.  There’s no reason for you to be in pain!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777