Dental ImplantsDentist Silverlake LA
Dental implants resemble your natural teeth in both form and function.
Dental Implants
The Gold Standard for Replacing Missing Teeth — Silver Lake, Los Angeles
A missing tooth is never just cosmetic. The moment a tooth is lost, the jawbone beneath it begins to shrink. Neighboring teeth start to shift. Your bite changes. Over time, what started as one missing tooth can affect your entire mouth — your ability to chew, your speech, the shape of your face, and the health of the teeth you still have.
We serve patients from Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Atwater Village, and the surrounding Los Angeles neighborhoods who are looking for specialist-level implant care close to home.
Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that addresses all of this. They replace not just the visible tooth, but the root beneath it — preserving bone, stabilizing neighboring teeth, and restoring full function in a way that no bridge or denture can match.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a small titanium post that is surgically placed into the jawbone where a tooth is missing. Over the following months, the implant fuses with the surrounding bone through a natural process called osseointegration — becoming a permanent, stable artificial tooth root.
Once fully integrated, a custom-crafted crown is attached on top, completing the restoration. The result looks, feels, and functions exactly like a natural tooth. You brush it, floss it, eat with it, and forget it’s there.
A single implant restoration has three components:
The implant — The titanium post placed in the bone. This is the root.
The abutment — A small connector piece that attaches to the top of the implant and supports the crown.
The crown — The custom-made visible tooth, matched precisely to the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth.
Who Needs a Dental Implants?
Implants are the ideal solution for patients who are:
- Missing one or more teeth due to decay, gum disease, trauma, or failed root canal treatment
- Unhappy with a removable partial denture and looking for a fixed, permanent alternative
- Missing teeth and experiencing bone loss, shifting of adjacent teeth, or bite changes
- Looking to replace an old bridge without altering the neighboring teeth further
- In good overall health with adequate bone density to support an implant
Even if you’ve been missing a tooth for years, implants may still be possible — though bone grafting may be needed first to rebuild the area. The only way to know for certain is a consultation with Dr. Aminpour, where 3D imaging gives us a precise picture of your bone.
Types of Implant Restorations
Single Tooth Implant
The most common implant scenario — one implant replaces one missing tooth. Unlike a traditional bridge, a single implant doesn’t require the teeth on either side to be altered or used as anchors. Your healthy neighboring teeth stay completely untouched, and the implant stands entirely on its own — just like a natural tooth root.
Single implants are the most conservative, most natural-feeling, and most long-lasting solution for an individual missing tooth.
Multiple Tooth Implants
When several teeth are missing in different areas of the mouth, individual implants can be placed for each one. Each implant is independent, self-supporting, and permanent — and multiple implants can often be completed in a staged approach depending on the areas involved and healing requirements.
Implant-Supported Bridge
When two or more adjacent teeth are missing, an implant-supported bridge replaces the entire span using implants as anchors rather than natural teeth. This avoids the need to alter healthy teeth while still providing a fixed, non-removable restoration.
An implant-supported bridge is more stable and longer-lasting than a traditional tooth-supported bridge, and because it’s anchored in the bone, it preserves the underlying bone structure as well.
Implant-Supported Dentures & Full Arch Replacement
For patients missing most or all of their teeth, implants can be used to anchor a full denture or support a complete fixed arch restoration. These options are covered in detail on our dedicated pages:
Why Implants Over Other Options?
Versus a dental bridge: A traditional bridge fills the gap but requires grinding down the two healthy teeth on either side to serve as anchors — permanently altering teeth that had nothing wrong with them. An implant stands alone, leaving neighboring teeth completely untouched. Implants also preserve jawbone; bridges do not.
Versus a removable partial denture: Removable partials are the most affordable short-term option but come with real trade-offs — they move, they can be uncomfortable, they require removal and cleaning, and they do nothing to prevent the bone loss that follows tooth loss. Implants are fixed, feel natural, and actively maintain bone volume.
Versus doing nothing: This is the option that causes the most long-term damage. Once a tooth is lost, the bone beneath it begins to resorb immediately. Adjacent teeth tip and drift into the space. Opposing teeth over-erupt. Bite forces redistribute unevenly. What starts as one missing tooth can cascade into significant dental problems over time. Implants stop all of that.
What is the Implant Process at Silverlake Dental Group?
Step 1 — Consultation & 3D Imaging You meet with Dr. Barkhordar for a comprehensive evaluation. We take a 3D CBCT scan of your jaw to assess bone density, volume, and anatomy — everything needed to plan precise, safe placement. You’ll leave your consultation with a clear treatment plan and a full cost breakdown.
Step 2 — Implant Placement Dr. Barkhordar places the titanium implant into the jawbone under local anesthesia or IV sedation — whichever you prefer. The procedure typically takes one to two hours. Most patients are back to normal activity within a few days.
Step 3 — Osseointegration Over the next three to six months, the implant fuses with your jawbone. This healing period is what gives the implant its permanence and strength. A temporary restoration is often provided so you’re not without a tooth during this time.
Step 4 — Crown Placement Once osseointegration is confirmed, Dr. Barkhordar takes precise impressions or digital scans and designs your final crown — custom-crafted to match your surrounding teeth in color, shape, and size. The crown is attached to the implant, and the case is complete.
Step 5 — Long-Term Care Implants require no special maintenance beyond what you already do — brush, floss, and come in for regular cleanings and checkups. At your maintenance visits we monitor the implant, the surrounding bone, and the health of the gum tissue to ensure everything remains stable long-term.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most healthy adults who are missing teeth are candidates for implants. The key requirements are:
- Sufficient jawbone density to support the implant, or willingness to undergo bone grafting first
- Healthy gums free of active periodontal disease — gum disease must be treated before implant placement
- Good overall health with no uncontrolled conditions that would significantly impair healing
- Non-smoker, or willingness to stop smoking during the healing period — smoking significantly increases implant failure rates
If you’ve been told in the past that you don’t have enough bone, advances in bone grafting techniques mean that more patients than ever can still receive implants. We’ll give you an honest assessment at your consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do dental implants last? With proper care and regular professional maintenance, the implant itself is designed to last a lifetime. The crown on top may eventually need to be replaced after 15–25 years of normal wear, but the implant root remains permanent.
Is the implant procedure painful? Most patients are surprised by how manageable it is. IV sedation is available so you can sleep through the entire procedure if preferred. Post-operative discomfort is typically mild to moderate and well-controlled with prescribed or over-the-counter medication. Dr. Aminpour’s minimally invasive guided technique significantly reduces swelling and recovery time.
How long is the full process from start to finish? From implant placement to final crown, the process typically takes three to six months — the majority of which is passive healing time. The actual chair time involved is relatively minimal. In select cases, same-day or immediate-load implants are possible, where a temporary crown is attached on the same day as placement.
Can I get an implant if I’ve been missing the tooth for a long time? Possibly, though bone loss is likely in that area after extended tooth absence. A bone graft may be needed to rebuild the site before the implant can be placed. Dr. Barkhordar will evaluate this at your consultation using 3D imaging.
What if I have gum disease? Active gum disease must be treated and stable before an implant can be placed. Placing an implant in a mouth with uncontrolled gum disease significantly increases the risk of implant failure. We’ll evaluate your gum health at your consultation and treat any disease before proceeding.
Does insurance cover dental implants? Coverage varies by plan. Some PPO dental plans cover a portion of the implant crown or the surgical placement. In cases where tooth loss is related to an accident or injury, medical insurance may cover part of the surgical cost. We verify all benefits before treatment and provide a complete cost breakdown upfront. Financing options are available for any remaining out-of-pocket costs.
How do I care for my implant? Exactly the same way you care for natural teeth — brush twice daily, floss daily, and attend regular professional cleanings. We’ll show you any specific techniques for cleaning around the implant at your final appointment. Routine checkups allow us to monitor the implant and surrounding tissue and catch any issues early.
What is the success rate of dental implants? Dental implants have a documented long-term success rate of approximately 95–98% when placed by a qualified surgeon in appropriate candidates. Dr. Barkhordar’s experience since 2007 and our guided surgical approach further support predictable, successful outcomes.
Missing teeth don’t have to be permanent. Call Silverlake Dental Group at (323) 922-6016 or request a consultation online — Dr. Barkhordar will walk you through every option and help you find the right solution for your smile.
From a family of dentists with quality care
We would be happy to work with you!