Missing and severely damaged teeth are a problem for millions of Americans every year. While dentures and bridges used to be the only cosmetic solution for missing teeth, dental implants now offer an alternative to wearing uncomfortable and unnatural-looking prosthetic dental devices. New advances in dental implant technology have made the procedure a dental restoration choice for many patients. Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, a cosmetic dentist in Los Angeles, specializes in implant dentistry at his Beverly Hills office. “Many patients think that dental implants are not a good option for them because of certain dental or medical conditions. However, advancements in implant technology have made this procedure more widely available.” Dental implants can be placed for patients of any age and can be used to replace one or several missing teeth. Implants are commonly done for patients who have had some type of gum disease or other periodontal issues that led to damaged or missing teeth. It should be noted that there are certain precautions that need to be taken for patients with medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Some patients are interested in dental implants to replace their existing dentures or bridges. Implants also can be used to stabilize patients dentures. Bone loss is common for patients who have lost teeth. In these cases, bone grafts may be necessary to properly secure the implant. One of the past drawbacks of dental implants is that the treatment could take months to complete. The patient would need to go to multiple appointments to prepare for the procedure and determine where the implants should be placed.With new dental advances, dental implants don’t have to take months to complete. Dr. Maddahi now offers his patients the latest in dental implant technology with convenient, same-day implant procedures. The Galileos Implant technology by Sirona uses a specially developed 3-D imaging process to give Dr. Maddahi a complete 360-degree image of the patient’s mouth and jaw area. These images are taken in a matter of minutes using cone beam technology during the preparation appointment. Dr. Maddahi examines these images and is able to view where the patient’s sinus and nerves are located. He also uses the images to determine the location, length and quality of the bone in the jaw. All of this information is used to prepare a model of the patient’s mouth and create the surgical stents for the implants. The surgical stent allows Dr. Maddahi to determine where to place the implant post without cutting open the gum. When the patient returns for their implant procedure, Dr. Maddahi uses the stents to quickly and precisely places the implants. Then, a temporary tooth is placed over the implant. The patient leaves the office in a few hours with a new smile. A permanent crown or series of crowns will be cemented into place once Dr. Maddahi has determined that the implant has fused to the bone.  Click here to watch a video segment about the dental implant procedure and learn about one patient’s experience. Patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Brentwood and all over Los Angeles are finding out about the convenience of same-day dental implants. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.