Dental Implants in Beverly Hills: What to Expect from Our All-on-4 Specialists
If you're missing one or more teeth, a dental implant is a titanium post placed into your jawbone that acts as an artificial tooth root — a permanent crown, bridge, or full-arch prosthesis attaches to it once it heals. Unlike a removable denture, it doesn't shift or need to come out at night, and unlike a bridge, it doesn't rely on your neighboring teeth for support. For a closer look at how the procedure works at our Santa Monica and Beverly Hills locations, read on — this guide walks through your options, the procedure itself, recovery, materials, cost, and how to vet a surgeon before you book anything.
How Common Is Tooth Loss, Really?
More common than most people expect, and it climbs fast with age:
Age group | Percentage who have lost all their teeth |
35–49 | 1.2% |
50–64 | 5.9% |
65–74 | 11.4% |
75+ | 19.7% |
That's according to the CDC's 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, using national health survey data — meaning more than 1 in 10 adults aged 65–74 have lost every tooth, and nearly 1 in 5 have by age 75. The same data shows smoking roughly triples your odds of ending up fully edentulous by retirement age (29.4% of current smokers 65+ vs. 11.9% of those who never smoked), and the gap widens further along income and education lines — a reminder that tooth loss isn't just an aging issue, it's a compounding one. If you're staring down tooth loss, you're not an outlier — you're the majority eventually.
Which Implant Option Fits Your Case?
Not everyone needs the same solution. It depends on how many teeth you're replacing.
One missing tooth: A single implant and crown, placed without touching your neighboring teeth. This is the most conservative option — you're not altering healthy teeth to fix the gap.
Several missing teeth in a row: Two or more implants anchor a fixed bridge — you don't need one implant per missing tooth. A three-tooth gap, for example, can often be restored with two implants supporting a three-unit bridge.
Most or all teeth in an arch: The All-on-Four technique uses just four implants to anchor a full arch of 12–14 replacement teeth, often without extensive bone grafting, and can leave you with a functional temporary set of teeth shortly after surgery.
Overdentures: For patients who want more stability than a traditional denture but don't need (or want) a fully fixed solution, a smaller number of implants (often 2–4) can snap a removable denture into place, so it no longer shifts or requires adhesive.
Titanium or Zirconia? What Implants Are Actually Made Of
Most dental implants are titanium, and for good reason: titanium has been used in implant dentistry for decades, integrates reliably with bone, and has the longest track record of any implant material. Zirconia implants are a newer, metal-free alternative, often chosen by patients with a documented metal sensitivity or a strong preference for an all-ceramic option. Zirconia is generally more brittle than titanium and comes in fewer size and shape options, which is part of why titanium remains the default recommendation for most cases. Your surgeon will factor in your bite force, jaw anatomy, and any metal sensitivities before recommending one over the other — it's rarely a purely cosmetic choice.
The Procedure, Step by Step
Consultation and imaging — a 3D scan checks your jawbone density and maps out exactly where each implant will go, and identifies whether you'll need bone grafting or a sinus lift first.
Placement — the titanium post goes into the jawbone under local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia, depending on your case and how many implants are being placed.
Osseointegration — a healing period, typically a few months, where your bone actually fuses to the implant. This is the step that can't be rushed; it's what makes the implant load-bearing in the long run.
Abutment placement — a small connector piece attaches to the healed implant, sometimes requiring a minor second procedure to uncover the implant if it was placed below the gumline.
Final restoration — your general dentist places the custom crown, bridge, or prosthesis, matched to the shape and shade of your natural teeth.
Same-day protocols like All-on-4 can fit you with a temporary set of teeth the day after surgery, but the final, permanent restoration still needs several months of healing first — worth knowing before you assume any "teeth in a day" marketing applies to the end result, not just the temporary one.
Sedation options. Depending on your comfort level and the complexity of your case, your surgeon may offer local anesthesia alone, oral or IV sedation, or general anesthesia. Full-arch cases and patients with dental anxiety often opt for sedation; a single implant placed in a straightforward site can sometimes be done comfortably under local anesthesia alone.
Recovery: What the First Few Weeks Actually Look Like
Days 1–3: Expect swelling and some soreness, manageable with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication. Stick to soft foods and avoid the surgical site when brushing.
Week 1: Swelling typically peaks in the first 48–72 hours and then steadily improves. Most patients return to desk work within a few days, though physically demanding jobs may need a longer pause.
Weeks 2–4: Soft tissue heals; you can usually return to a more normal diet, avoiding very hard or crunchy foods directly on the implant site.
Months 2–6: This is the osseointegration window — the implant is fusing to bone, largely invisible day to day, but it's why your surgeon schedules follow-up visits before moving to the final restoration.
How Long Do Dental Implants Actually Last?
Longer than most marketing claims suggest — and the real research backs that up without needing to round up. A 2024 meta-analysis in Clinical Oral Investigations pooled 20-year follow-up data across multiple studies and found survival rates in the high 80s to low 90s percent range — roughly 4 out of 5 implants still doing their job two decades later, even after accounting for patients lost to follow-up (not just the best-case numbers). That's a more honest figure than the "95–98%!" claims you'll see on unsourced sites, and it's still a strong outcome.
What happens if an implant fails? Failure is uncommon but not impossible, and it's usually caught early — either during the osseointegration period (the implant doesn't fuse properly) or years later due to peri-implantitis, an infection around the implant similar to gum disease around a natural tooth. Most failures are addressed by removing the implant, letting the site heal, and replacing it; smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and poor oral hygiene are the most common contributing factors, which is part of why your surgeon screens for these before ever recommending implants.
Dental Implants vs. Dentures vs. Bridges
Feature | Dental Implants | Dentures | Bridges |
Stability | Fixed in jawbone — doesn't shift | Removable; can shift or slip | Fixed, but relies on neighboring teeth |
Bone preservation | Stimulates and preserves jawbone | Doesn't prevent bone loss | Doesn't prevent bone loss at the gap |
Impact on adjacent teeth | None | None | Requires reshaping neighboring teeth |
Typical lifespan | Decades, often a lifetime with care | 5–10 years, often need relining | 10–15 years |
Daily routine | Brush and floss as normal | Remove nightly for cleaning | Brush and floss as normal |
Chewing feel | Closest to natural teeth | Reduced bite force, can feel bulky | Close to natural, but limited by anchor teeth |
What Do Dental Implants Cost?
It depends on how many teeth you're replacing, whether you need bone grafting or a sinus lift first, and which restoration you end up with. What we can tell you: dental costs nationally have been climbing. The ADA's Health Policy Institute reported that two-thirds of dentists raised their fees this year, by an average of 6.7%, because equipment, supplies, and staff wages are outpacing what insurance reimburses. If a number you found online feels out of date, it probably is — get a current quote instead of budgeting against last year's estimate.
What drives the price up or down:
Number of implants — a single tooth costs far less than a full-arch case, but full-arch solutions like All-on-4 often cost less per replaced tooth than doing six or eight individual implants.
Bone grafting or sinus lift — if imaging shows insufficient bone, this adds a procedure (and healing time) before implant placement.
Sedation type — IV sedation or general anesthesia adds cost beyond local anesthesia alone.
Restoration material — a porcelain crown, an implant-supported bridge, and a full-arch prosthesis are priced differently.
Financing. Most oral surgery practices, including ours, work with third-party financing options (like CareCredit) for patients paying out of pocket, and many patients use a mix of dental insurance (for the crown or a portion of placement) and financing for the rest. Your treatment coordinator can walk through what applies to your specific plan during your consultation.
Are You a Candidate?
Most healthy adults are. Your surgeon will look at:
Jawbone density (bone grafting can address low density in many cases)
Gum health
Smoking status
Uncontrolled systemic conditions, like unmanaged diabetes
Age — there's no upper age limit for implants on their own; overall health matters more than the number on your birth certificate
If you were told years ago you're not a candidate because of bone loss, it's worth a second opinion — bone grafting and sinus lift techniques have opened up implants to a lot of patients who weren't candidates a decade ago.
Why Patients Choose Santa Monica Center for Oral Surgery
Our five board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons — Dr. Howard Park, Dr. Richard Ting, Dr. Gil Ivry, Dr. Jeffrey Tanner, and Dr. Derek Vajda — hold hospital privileges at Providence Saint John's Health Center and see patients at both our Santa Monica and Beverly Hills offices. Board certification and hospital privileges aren't just credentials — they mean an outside body has vetted this surgeon's training and outcomes, which is worth checking before you commit to anyone doing surgery in your mouth. Hospital privileges specifically matter because hospitals only grant them after reviewing a surgeon's training, case outcomes, and standing with peer physicians — it's a level of vetting a standalone dental practice doesn't have to clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dental implants painful?
Less than most people expect. Placement happens under local anesthesia or sedation, and post-op soreness is usually manageable with medication for a few days.
Can I get dental implants in one day?
Same-day options like All-on-4 can give you a temporary, functional set of teeth right after surgery. The permanent restoration still needs several months for full healing.
Does insurance cover dental implants?
It varies a lot by plan — some cover part of the placement or crown, others exclude implants entirely. We'll walk through your specific benefits during your consultation.
What's the best full-arch solution if I'm missing most of my teeth?
All-on-4 is generally the most efficient option — four implants instead of six or more, often without extensive grafting.
How do I pick the right oral surgeon in Beverly Hills?
Check for board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery and hospital privileges, and expect a practice that's upfront about your specific treatment plan before surgery — not just a generic quote.
How long does the entire process take, from consultation to final teeth?
For a single implant with adequate bone, often 4–6 months total. Cases needing bone grafting or a sinus lift first can take longer, since that graft needs its own healing time before the implant goes in.
Can I go back to work right after surgery?
Most patients take a few days off for desk-type work; more physically demanding jobs may need a longer break depending on how many implants were placed and what sedation was used.
Will my implant look and feel like a real tooth?
Yes — the crown is custom-shaped and shaded to match your surrounding teeth, and because the implant is anchored in bone rather than resting on the gum, it feels and functions like a natural tooth rather than a removable appliance.
What if I don't have enough jawbone for an implant?
Bone grafting or a sinus lift can build up the site over a few months, after which implant placement proceeds as normal. This is common, not a disqualifier.
Ready to Talk Through Your Options?
Book a consultation at our Beverly Hills or Santa Monica office and we'll build a treatment plan around your case, not a generic one.
