Preferring to educate his patients regarding their choices, Los Angeles cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi explains the basis for his dental implant recommendation. ?Missing teeth cause the obvious problems of diminished appearance and self-esteem of a patient. However, it may not be as apparent that missing teeth affect an individual's general health, as well as the health of remaining teeth. When teeth go unreplaced, surrounding teeth can also be lost. Additional cosmetic dental problems can be caused by tipping or crowding of the teeth adjacent to the missing teeth.? A dental implant is a surrogate for the roots of missing teeth, acting as a permanent anchor for replacement teeth.

Dentures or partials can be used to replace missing teeth, however there are numerous problems associated with them. Dr. Maddahi further explains, ?They can be unstable, and often leave a patient with painful sores caused by rubbing against the soft tissues in the mouth. Some people even have speech difficulties when using such devices.? Dentures or partials do not provide a solution to ?atrophy?, which is a shrinking of the jawbone that can progress over the years due to missing teeth. Adverse facial cosmetic changes can be caused by the atrophy of the jaw bone, and it can also negatively affect the function of the jaw over time.

None of the other options to remedy missing teeth have proven to be as effective or as natural in appearance as dental implants. In many cases, dental implants may be the only logical choice for complete restoration of the function of the teeth and jaw. Many patients report that the look they achieve with their implants is the most comparable to natural teeth.

A typical implant consists of titanium cylinders anchored into the jawbone to support replacement teeth. This is based on the discovery that titanium can be successfully incorporated into bone, forming a structural and functional connection between the living bone and the implant. Since the implants supporting the replacement teeth are integrated with the bone of the jaw, they are extremely stable and strong, allowing a patient to chew normally.

While dental implants are a more modern cosmetic dentistry option than dentures, which received their first patent in 1791, there are now patients who have had successful implant supported teeth for more than twenty-five years. Thorough professional research has been conducted for many years, during which dental implants have been refined, achieving very high success rates. There is simply no longer the need for a patient to endure uncomfortable dentures and bridges.

?Dental implants are permanent. They are completely stable, providing a more natural look, feel and function,? says Dr. Maddahi. I recommend cosmetic dental implants to my patients with missing teeth.? Missing teeth can lead to an unattractive smile, discomfort caused by dentures, and difficulty with eating or talking. Bridges, removable partials and dentures can be used to replace missing teeth; however, anchored to the jaw, dental implants offer a permanent, stable solution to missing teeth.

Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has been specializing in creating beautiful, natural smiles and superior dental health for 20 years and is located in Beverly Hills at 436 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at 310-888-7797.