Dental Implants in Beverly Hills, CA
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jonathan Peri, DDS, MD
Replacing the root, not just the tooth
A bridge or a denture replaces what you can see. An implant replaces what you cannot, the root. A titanium or ceramic post is placed into the jawbone, the bone grows onto it over a few months, and a crown is fitted on top.
That matters for one reason: bone that has nothing to support it shrinks away. An implant keeps the bone working, which is why the face keeps its shape and why neighboring teeth are left alone rather than filed down to carry a bridge.
- Usually takes3 to 6 months
- Visits3 to 5, spread out
- NumbingLocal anesthetic, sedation available
- SurgeonOral surgeon on site
An implant is usually the right answer when
- You are missing one tooth and the teeth either side are healthy
- A bridge would mean cutting down sound teeth
- A denture moves, clicks, or has stopped fitting
- A tooth is cracked below the gum and cannot be saved
- You have lost several teeth and want something fixed rather than removable
How it is planned
Implants fail when they are placed by eye. Yours is planned from a 3D scan of your jaw, so we know exactly where the bone is dense enough and where the nerve runs before anything is placed.
- Assessment and 3D scanWe check the gum, the bone volume and your bite, and scan the jaw. This is where we find out whether you need a graft, better now than mid-treatment.
- The plan and the costWritten down before anything starts: how many implants, whether grafting is needed, how long each stage takes and what each stage costs.
- Placing the implantA short procedure under local anesthetic, done by our oral surgeon in this building. Most people are back to normal the next day.
- HealingThe bone grows onto the implant over roughly three to six months. You are not without a tooth, a temporary bridges the gap.
- The crownOnce the implant is solid, we take an impression and fit a crown matched to the teeth around it.
- Review and maintenanceImplants do not decay, but the gum around them can become inflamed. Regular cleanings are what make them last.
What it costs, and what affects it
An implant is priced as a course of treatment, not a single item. The variables are how many teeth, whether you need a bone graft or a sinus lift first, and the material of the final crown.
We give you the whole figure in writing at the consultation, broken into stages. Many plans cover part of an implant when the tooth was lost to damage or disease; we will help you find out which parts of yours qualify, and financing is available.
The alternatives, honestly
- A bridge is faster and cheaper up front, but it means preparing the healthy teeth either side and it does nothing for the bone.
- A denture is the least invasive and least expensive, and the right answer for some people, but it is removable and the fit changes as bone shrinks.
- All-on-4 replaces a full arch on four implants where individual implants are not practical.
- Zygomatic implants are for cases where the upper jaw has too little bone for conventional implants.
Does it hurt?
The placement is done under local anesthetic, so you should not feel it. Most people describe the days afterwards as sore rather than painful and manage on ordinary painkillers. Sedation is available if you are anxious.
How long do implants last?
The implant itself is designed to be permanent and often is. The crown on top is the part that wears and may need replacing after many years. Gum disease is the main thing that shortens an implant, which is why maintenance is part of the plan.
Will anyone be able to tell?
No. The crown is shaded to the teeth beside it and emerges through the gum the way a natural tooth does.
What if I do not have enough bone?
That is common where a tooth has been missing a while. A graft rebuilds the site first, which adds a few months. The 3D scan tells us before we start rather than after.
Can I have the tooth out and the implant placed the same day?
Sometimes, if the bone and gum allow it. It is decided at the scan, not promised in advance.
Find out whether an implant suits your case
- (310) 860-6969Someone here answers.
- Request a visitWe will call to confirm.
- Pick a time onlineChoose your own slot.
What an implant does that other options do not
Every replacement gives you something to chew with. Only an implant replaces the root, and that is the difference that matters over decades.
Bone exists to carry load. Remove a root and the bone in that area is no longer stimulated, so it resorbs. Fastest in the first year and continuing slowly for life. That is why long-term denture wearers see the shape of the lower face change.
An implant transmits chewing force into the bone in a way that keeps it working, which largely halts that process locally.
The second advantage is what it does not do. A bridge requires cutting down the teeth either side, permanently, and those teeth then carry extra load. An implant stands alone and leaves its neighbors untouched.
Titanium or zirconia?
Both work. Titanium has the longer track record and the wider range of parts; zirconia is metal-free and answers a narrower set of problems. Which one suits you depends on the site, the gum and your own preference, not on which is newer.
Titanium: the long-record option
Titanium implants have decades of published follow-up behind them, which is the main reason they remain the default. The components come in more sizes and angles, so difficult sites and angled restorations are easier to solve.
Zirconia: metal-free
A white ceramic implant with no metal in it. The genuine reasons to choose it are a diagnosed metal sensitivity, or a thin gum at the front where a titanium post can show as a faint gray shadow through the tissue.
The appearance question is about the gum
What you see in the mirror is the crown, and both systems take the same tooth-colored crown. The implant itself sits under the gum. It only becomes visible if the gum is thin or recedes, which is exactly the case where zirconia earns its place.
What actually decides success
Enough healthy bone, a gum that is free of infection, an accurately planned position, and no smoking during healing. Those matter far more than the material. We scan before planning so the position is decided on evidence rather than on the day.
What we will tell you
If your case is straightforward, we will say titanium is the sensible choice and explain why. If a thin gum or a sensitivity makes zirconia the better answer, we will say that instead. We will not sell you the more expensive material to sell you the more expensive material.
Costs, and why cheap implants are not a bargain
An implant is three separate things: the implant itself, the abutment that connects to it, and the crown on top. Quotes that look dramatically lower are usually quoting one of the three.
What we would ask about any quote, including ours: does it include the CT scan and planning, any graft that turns out to be needed, the abutment and crown, and the follow-up appointments?
One thing worth knowing about implant systems. Well-established brands have parts available worldwide for decades. Budget systems are sometimes discontinued, and if a component breaks in fifteen years and no part exists, the implant has to be removed rather than repaired. That is the real risk in a cheap implant, and it does not show up for a long time.
Insurance coverage for implants is variable and often partial. We check yours, quote in writing, and financing is available.