05
Mar
6 Things To Expect When You Get Dental Implants in Riverside, California
Dental implants could be the ideal choice if you’re missing teeth and looking for a permanent solution. At Neal Edwards DDS, we specialize in restoring smiles with high-quality implants that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. But what exactly happens when you decide to get dental implants? Understanding the process can help you feel confident and prepared. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what you can expect when getting dental implants in Riverside, California.
1. The Initial Consultation
Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation at our office. During this visit, Dr. Neal Edwards will assess your oral health, take digital X-rays or 3D scans, and determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants. We’ll discuss your treatment goals, review your medical history, and answer any questions you may have
2. Preparing for the Procedure
If your jawbone is healthy and strong, you may immediately be ready for implant placement. However, some patients may need a bone graft to strengthen the jaw before surgery. Bone grafting helps create a stable foundation for the implant but requires additional healing time before it can be placed. If a tooth needs to be extracted before the implant procedure, we’ll carefully plan the timing to ensure proper healing.
3. The Implant Placement Surgery
On the day of your surgery, we’ll ensure your comfort with local anesthesia or sedation, depending on your needs. Dr. Edwards will then place a small titanium post into your jawbone, which acts as the artificial tooth root. The procedure is precise and typically takes one to two hours per implant. After placement, we may provide a temporary restoration so you won’t have to go without a tooth during the healing process.
4. Healing and Osseointegration
After the implant is placed, your jawbone requires time to heal and naturally bond with the post through osseointegration. This essential phase, which can take several months, helps create a secure and long-lasting foundation for your new tooth. During this time, it’s crucial to follow post-operative care guidelines, practice good oral hygiene, and avoid excessive pressure on the implant site. If necessary, we may provide a temporary tooth replacement to preserve the appearance of your smile.
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5. Attaching the Abutment and Crown
After fully integrating your implant with your jawbone, we’ll move to the final steps. A small connection piece, called an abutment, is joined to the implant post. This abutment serves as the base for the final restoration. Once your gums heal around the abutment, we’ll place a custom-made dental crown that matches your natural teeth’ shape, color, and size.
6. Aftercare and Long-Term Maintenance
Dental implants are a long-term investment in oral health, and they can last a lifetime with proper care. To keep your implants in excellent condition, it’s essential to maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine, including brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups. Avoid habits like smoking, which can interfere with healing and long-term success.
Ready to Restore Your Smile? Call Us Today!
Getting dental implants in Riverside, CA is a life-changing decision that can restore your confidence and improve your quality of life. At Neal Edwards DDS, we’re dedicated to providing expert care every step of the way. If you’re ready to explore your options, call us at (951) 614-0033 to schedule your consultation. Let’s work together to bring back your beautiful, functional smile!
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Neal Edwards DDS, FICOI
Dr. Neal Edwards, DDS, FICOI, studied Biology at La Sierra University before earning his dental degree from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. A practicing dentist since 2007, he loves meeting new people and helping them achieve their dental goals through pleasant dental experiences.Dr. Edwards holds memberships in the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI). He is very keen on continuing education and completed his ICOI Fellowship recently. He had also completed a mini-residency in implant dentistry from Loma Linda University. He is a Team Dentist for the Ontario Reign hockey team - LA Kings’ AHL affiliate.
What Our
Patients
Say
Erin’s Experience With Teeth Grinding
My name’s Aaron Phillips, and I’ve been a patient of Dr. Edwards for about seven years since he opened his practice. The treatment that I’ve received that’s made the biggest difference in my smile has really been addressing my grinding. So I grind a lot. I grind at night, I grind during the day. I’m clenching, and so I’ve cracked a molar and he’s had to fill another molar where I’ve just ground away. It’s down to dentin, and that’s made a big difference for me in terms of pain and coping through the day. So through his treatment, Dr. Edwards has really helped, I think, preserve and save my teeth because I just grind so hard. But he’s also helped me address pain that I have throughout the day. I have a lot of jaw pain. It creates headaches and tension in my neck, and it was really impacting my daily life.
And so with his help, I’ve been able to address that and save my teeth. So Dr. Edwards, his entire team make us feel really comfortable here in the office. They greet us, they know us, they know the details of our family and our kids. And because we’ve been patients for so long, they just really make us feel like we’re home. It’s a very comfortable environment for us. If folks are interested in getting dental treatment, I think they should choose Dr. Edwards because he’s honest and trustworthy and he’ll tell you what you need and then he’ll follow through. And his staff, they’re amazing. They make you feel very comfortable, very trusting, and they make you feel like family.
Erin’s Experience With Teeth Grinding
Kibra’s Experience With Dental Implants
My name is Kyra Men, and I’ve been a patient of Dr. Edwards for about 15 years now. So the treatment that I received with Dr. Edwards that made the biggest difference for me were my implants. I needed an implant. I needed a bridge. I mean, my confidence was shot because my teeth had a lot of issues. Your smile is everything. I’m an educator. I teach kids. I sing a lot, and so being nervous about what you’re going to look like on camera, it really is a thing. So I think just the implants, being able to regain that confidence, it was everything. I decided to get the bridge repair and the implants because my teeth, when he went in to try to repair them, they weren’t salvageable, and so we had to do something to replace my existing teeth. I just felt overall restored. I felt a lot more confident.
I was excited to explore the other treatments that he suggested as well. If someone is interested in a bridge repair treatment, I would say definitely choose Dr. Edwards because he takes time to make sure the small details are covered. For instance, the color of the teeth, you could tell the difference between their natural teeth and then the bridge repair. With him, that’s not the case. He takes the time to make sure that there’s a perfect color match. He maintains the integrity of the shape of the tooth, and even any of the spacing that your normal teeth would have.
Kibra’s Experience With Dental Implants
Lou’s Experience With Same Day Crowns
My name is Lou Monville, and I have been a patient of Dr. Edwards for seven years. So the treatment that I received here that made the biggest difference in my smile is these two things right here. So those teeth got broken in high school, plain water polo, like a lot of my dental work, and I had some old crowns. They were getting to the point that they needed to be replaced, and so Dr. Edwards says it’s time to replace those. But what blew my mind was it was done in a day. I was in and out of here in less than two hours with two brand new teeth that actually looked like my teeth. My wife was blown away. The technology now and the technology that Dr. Edwards has is phenomenal. I was always kind of cautious with my smile, real up close with those kind of big false teeth, and now you can’t tell the difference.
My kids noticed the difference. My family noticed the difference. So it’s been probably one of the best things I’ve done in a long time. Well, if you’re going to have a crown treatment, why would I tell you to go see Dr. Edwards? First off, the attention to detail that was super important. Then two, just the technology, the ability to not have to walk around with a false tooth or a temporary, two crowns in and out, two hours. I’ve never experienced that in my life to have that repair look phenomenal, but to be done, when you walk out and you’ve got your smile, you can’t beat it.