Dental Implants in Encino, CA
Missing teeth can affect how you eat, speak, smile, and feel about your appearance. They can also change the way your remaining teeth function and may contribute to changes in the jawbone over time. For patients seeking a stable, long-term solution, dental implants can replace missing teeth from the root up.
At Sargon Dental in Encino, CA, implant dentistry is one of our primary focuses. Dr. Sargon Lazarof has more than three decades of dental experience and invented Ultratooth™, an FDA-cleared immediate-load dental implant system. Our Encino dental office provides implant solutions for patients missing a single tooth, several teeth, or an entire arch.
If you are researching dental implants in Encino, this guide explains how implants work, who may be a candidate, what makes immediate-load implants different, how full-mouth implants work, and what to consider when choosing an implant dentist.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants replace missing teeth by creating a foundation in the jaw for a dental restoration. Unlike a traditional removable denture that rests mainly on the gums, an implant sits within the jaw and supports a replacement tooth or larger restoration.
A dental implant restoration typically consists of an implant placed in the jaw, a connecting component called an abutment, and a crown, bridge, or other restoration that replaces the visible portion of the missing tooth or teeth.
Dentists can use dental implants in several ways. A single implant may replace one missing tooth. Multiple implants may support a bridge when several teeth are missing. Patients who have lost most or all of their teeth may also be candidates for full mouth dental implants.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Replacing a missing tooth is about more than filling a space in your smile. Tooth loss can affect your bite and change how chewing forces are distributed. Adjacent teeth may gradually shift toward the open space, and the bone in an area without a tooth root can change over time.
Missing teeth may also make certain foods harder to eat and can affect speech, depending on the number and location of the missing teeth. When several teeth are lost, the effects can become increasingly noticeable.
Dental implants restore both function and appearance. Because they are supported within the jaw, implants can provide a stable foundation for replacement teeth while helping patients regain confidence in everyday activities such as eating, talking, laughing, and smiling.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Conventional dental implants generally rely on a process known as osseointegration. After an implant is positioned within the jawbone, bone gradually forms around its surface. This biological integration helps create a stable foundation for the dental restoration.
Traditional implant treatment may therefore involve multiple stages and a healing period before placing the final restoration. The exact timeline varies based on the patient’s oral health, bone quality, implant location, number of implants, need for extractions or grafting, and the planned restoration.
Advances in implant dentistry have also led to immediate-load approaches that may allow qualified patients to receive a functional restoration much sooner.
What Are Same-Day Dental Implants?
Same-day or immediate-load dental implants refer to implant treatment in which a restoration can be attached much sooner than with a traditional delayed-loading approach. However, not every implant or every patient qualifies for immediate loading.
At Sargon Dental, Dr. Sargon Lazarof developed Ultratooth™ immediate dental implants. Ultratooth™ is an FDA-cleared immediate-load implant system designed to achieve mechanical stability at placement through an expandable implant design.
For qualified patients, this may allow a fixed, functional replacement tooth to be placed the same day as implant placement, rather than requiring the waiting period associated with some traditional implant protocols.
Clinicians must determine candidacy for immediate loading through a clinical evaluation. Clinicians must consider bone condition, implant stability, gum health, bite forces, medical history, and the missing tooth’s location.
What Is Ultratooth™?
Ultratooth™ is an immediate-load dental implant developed by Dr. Sargon Lazarof. Its expandable design is intended to establish stability within the bone when the implant is placed. This initial stability is what may allow qualified patients to receive a functional restoration immediately.
Dr. Lazarof’s work in immediate-load implantology spans decades. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree with honors from the USC School of Dentistry in 1986 and later developed the implant technology now known as Ultratooth™.
For Encino patients, this means the dentist who developed the implant system is directly involved in implant dentistry at Sargon Dental. During your consultation, Dr. Lazarof can determine whether Ultratooth™, another implant approach, or a different restorative treatment is appropriate for your particular dental condition.
Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Many adults with missing or failing teeth can be evaluated for dental implants. However, we determine implant candidacy individually, not by age alone.
An implant evaluation typically considers your gums, available jawbone, remaining teeth, bite, oral hygiene, medical history, medications, smoking or tobacco use, and the location of the teeth being replaced.
Healthy gums and adequate bone support matter because the tissues around an implant help maintain its long-term stability. Existing gum disease, active infections, or other oral health problems may need to be addressed before implant treatment begins.
Patients who have experienced bone loss should not automatically assume that dental implants are impossible. Depending on the situation, different implant approaches or procedures such as bone grafting may be considered. Diagnostic imaging and a comprehensive examination are necessary to determine the available options.
Can Dental Implants Replace One Missing Tooth?
Yes. Replacing a single missing tooth is one of the most common applications for implant dentistry.
An implant can be placed in the area of the missing tooth and restored with an individual crown. One advantage of this approach is that neighboring teeth generally don’t need to serve as supports, as they would with a traditional tooth-supported bridge.
The restoration can be designed to coordinate with the surrounding teeth in color, size, shape, and proportion. The goal is to restore the missing tooth while maintaining natural-looking aesthetics and comfortable function.
Can Implants Replace Several Missing Teeth?
Dental implants can also replace multiple missing teeth. You don’t always need one implant for every tooth being replaced. In certain cases, strategically positioned implants can support an implant-supported bridge that replaces several teeth.
The number of implants required depends on several factors, including how many teeth are missing, where they are located, available bone, bite forces, and the design of the final restoration.
Planning is therefore essential. The objective is not simply to place implants but to create an implant and restorative configuration that supports comfortable chewing, proper bite relationships, aesthetics, and long-term maintenance.
What Are Full Mouth Dental Implants?
Patients who have lost most or all of their teeth may be candidates for full-arch or full-mouth dental implants. Rather than replacing every missing tooth with an individual implant, strategically positioned implants can support a larger fixed restoration.
Full-mouth implant treatment may be considered for patients with widespread tooth loss, extensively damaged teeth, failing dental work, advanced dental problems, or difficulty functioning with removable dentures.
These cases require comprehensive planning because the dentist must consider the implants, bone, gums, bite, facial proportions, and final restoration as a whole.
For patients with several overlapping dental problems, implant treatment may also be part of a full-mouth reconstruction that combines implants with other restorative procedures.
Dental Implants vs. Dentures
Both dental implants and dentures can replace missing teeth, but they function differently.
Traditional dentures are removable appliances that generally rely on the gums and underlying tissues for support. Dental implants are supported within the jaw. Implants can also support larger restorations, giving patients options for greater stability than a conventional removable denture may provide.
Some patients prefer removable teeth, while others prioritize a fixed restoration. Cost, anatomy, oral health, maintenance requirements, lifestyle, and treatment goals can all affect the decision.
If you are comparing your options, Sargon Dental can explain the differences between fixed and removable teeth and help you understand which approach may be appropriate for you.
Do You Need Bone Grafting for Dental Implants?
Not every dental implant patient needs a bone graft. Whether you need grafting depends on the quantity, quality, and shape of the bone where you’re considering an implant.
After tooth loss, the jawbone in that area may gradually change because it no longer receives the same stimulation from a natural tooth root. Gum disease, infections, trauma, and long-term tooth loss can also affect available bone.
If there is insufficient bone for the planned implant, bone grafting may sometimes be recommended. However, different implant designs and treatment strategies may offer additional options. The appropriate approach depends on diagnostic imaging and an examination.
What Happens During a Dental Implant Consultation?
A dental implant consultation at Sargon Dental begins with understanding what is bothering you and what you want to accomplish. Some patients are replacing one recently lost tooth, while others have struggled with missing or failing teeth for years.
Your dentist evaluates your teeth, gums, bite, and jaw and reviews your medical and dental history. Diagnostic imaging can help assess bone anatomy and other structures that visual examination alone cannot evaluate.
After gathering this information, the dentist can discuss whether dental implants are appropriate, how many implants may be necessary, whether additional treatment is recommended, and what type of restoration may best meet your functional and aesthetic goals.
How Long Does Dental Implant Treatment Take?
Dental implant treatment does not have one universal timeline. Treatment length depends on the implant system, the number of missing teeth, jawbone condition, the need for extractions or grafting, healing time, and the complexity of the final restoration.
Traditional implants may require a healing period before attaching the final restoration. With an immediate-load system such as Ultratooth™, qualified patients may receive a fixed, functional tooth much sooner.
During your consultation, Sargon Dental can provide a treatment sequence based on your specific condition, not a generic timeline.
How Do Dental Implants Look and Feel?
The visible part of an implant restoration is designed to resemble a natural tooth or group of teeth. For an individual implant, the crown can be customized according to the size, shape, color, and proportions of the surrounding teeth.
Full-arch restorations require more extensive planning because tooth position, bite, facial support, smile line, and gum appearance may all influence the final design.
Sargon Dental also offers zirconia fixed bridges for appropriate implant cases. Zirconia can provide the strength required for larger restorations while offering tooth-like aesthetics.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants are designed as a long-term tooth replacement option, but their longevity depends on many factors. Oral hygiene, gum and bone health, smoking, medical conditions, bite forces, implant position, restoration design, and regular professional maintenance can all affect long-term outcomes.
Although the implant itself cannot develop a cavity like natural tooth enamel, the tissues surrounding it still require careful maintenance. Inflammation or disease around an implant can compromise the supporting gums and bone.
Regular examinations allow your dentist to monitor both the implant and the restoration over time.
How Do You Care for Dental Implants?
Daily care is essential. Brush your implant restorations and clean around them as your dentist recommends. Depending on the restoration, your dentist may recommend floss, interdental brushes, water flossers, or specialized cleaning aids.
Professional dental cleanings and examinations remain important after implant treatment. Your dentist can monitor the gums, supporting bone, bite, implant stability, and condition of the restoration.
Patients with full-arch implant restorations may receive different cleaning instructions than someone with a single implant crown, so following an individualized maintenance program is important.
Why Choose Sargon Dental for Dental Implants in Encino?
When choosing an implant dentist in Encino, consider experience, diagnostic capabilities, available implant options, restorative planning, and who will handle your ongoing care.
At Sargon Dental, implant dentistry has been central to Dr. Sargon Lazarof’s career for more than three decades. Dr. Lazarof invented the FDA-cleared Ultratooth™ immediate-load dental implant and has worked extensively in implantology, education, research, and restorative dentistry.
Our Encino office treats different levels of tooth loss, from individual dental implants to immediate-load implants, multiple-tooth replacement, full-mouth dental implants, zirconia fixed bridges, and comprehensive full-mouth reconstruction.
Multiple options let us base treatment recommendations on your anatomy, oral health, functional needs, and personal goals, rather than treating every missing-tooth case the same way.
Dental Implant Dentist Serving Encino and the San Fernando Valley
Sargon Dental is located at 16101 Ventura Blvd, Suite 350, Encino, CA 91436. Our Encino office serves patients in Encino and nearby San Fernando Valley communities, including Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Studio City, Van Nuys, and surrounding areas.
Patients visit our Encino office for dental implants, Ultratooth™ immediate-load implants, full-mouth implant treatment, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and comprehensive smile reconstruction.
If you are searching for a dental implant dentist near Encino, the best starting point is an individualized examination that identifies the cause and extent of your tooth loss and determines the most appropriate replacement options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants in Encino
1. Where is Sargon Dental located in Encino?
Sargon Dental is located at 16101 Ventura Blvd, Suite 350, Encino, CA 91436. Our office serves Encino and nearby communities including Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Studio City, and Van Nuys—call (888) 673-2177 to schedule a dental implant consultation.
2. What is the difference between traditional and same-day dental implants?
Traditional implant treatment often includes a healing period before attaching the final restoration. Immediate-load implants allow qualified patients to receive a functional restoration sooner. Sargon Dental offers Ultratooth™, an FDA-cleared immediate-load implant developed by Dr. Sargon Lazarof.
3. Can I get a dental implant immediately after an extraction?
Some patients may qualify for implant placement at or near the time of tooth extraction. Whether this is appropriate depends on bone condition, infection, gum health, implant stability, and tooth location.
4. Can dental implants replace all of my teeth?
Yes. Full-mouth or full-arch dental implant treatment can replace an entire arch of missing or failing teeth using strategically positioned implants to support a larger restoration.
5. Do I need one implant for every missing tooth?
Not necessarily. One implant can replace a single tooth, while several strategically placed implants may support a bridge or full-arch restoration that replaces multiple teeth.
6. Can I get implants if I have bone loss?
Bone loss does not automatically rule out dental implant treatment. Your dentist must evaluate the amount and location of available bone and determine whether implants, bone grafting, or another approach may be appropriate.
7. Are dental implants removable?
The implants remain in the jaw. The restoration supported by the implants may be fixed or removable, depending on the treatment plan.
8. Can dental implants get cavities?
Implants and artificial restorations do not develop tooth decay the same way natural enamel does. However, plaque and inflammation can affect the gums and bone surrounding implants, which is why brushing, cleaning between the teeth and implants, and professional dental care remain important.
9. How much do dental implants cost in Encino?
Dental implant costs vary based on the number of missing teeth, the number and type of implants, restoration, diagnostic procedures, the need for extractions or grafting, and overall treatment complexity. A personalized examination is necessary to provide an accurate treatment plan and cost estimate.
10. How do I schedule a dental implant consultation in Encino?
Call Sargon Dental’s Encino office at (888) 673-2177 to schedule a consultation. Our office is located at 16101 Ventura Blvd, Suite 350, Encino, CA 91436.
Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation in Encino, CA
Whether you are missing one tooth, several teeth, or an entire arch, there may be more than one way to rebuild your smile. The right solution depends on your oral health, jawbone, bite, existing teeth, medical history, and treatment goals.
At Sargon Dental, Dr. Sargon Lazarof provides implant treatment ranging from individual tooth replacement to Ultratooth™ immediate-load dental implants, full-mouth implants, fixed zirconia restorations, and comprehensive reconstruction.
If you are considering dental implants in Encino, CA, schedule an evaluation to learn which treatment options may be appropriate for you. Call Sargon Dental at (888) 673-2177 or visit our Encino office at 16101 Ventura Blvd, Suite 350, Encino, CA 91436.
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