I had my first appointment with Dr. Vashi about a week ago and I found him to be a caring and professional dentist. While he had a lot of high tech equipment that helped to make the appointment fast and efficient, I was primarily impressed by how he took the time to explain each procedure in layman terms and discuss best practices for preventive care.
The staff was courteous and friendly and I had no trouble booking a follow-up appointment that worked with my busy schedule. For someone like me who doesn't really look forward to dental visits, he made the process into a very positive experience.
- Jesse T.
You have choices for tooth replacement
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a tooth that feels and functions like a natural tooth. It is a permanent fixture of titanium posts anchored to the jawbone and topped with individual replacement teeth or a bridge that screws or cements into the posts. Thanks to the high-tech equipment in his office and advanced training, Dr. Vashi can perform the entire implant procedure for you in his South Pasadena office. Read more about Dental Implants here.
Bridges
A bridge is a dental restoration that spans an area that has no teeth. It is connected to the natural teeth at each end. A typical bridge consists of a filler tooth that is attached to two surrounding crowns. After completion, the bridge structure is bonded into the mouth. Read more about Bridges here.
Dentures
Dentures, partial or complete, replace either the bottom arch or the top arch of your mouth. Read more about Dentures here.
Call us at (626) 768-3130 to schedule your appointment or click here to request an appointment online.
How do the choices compare?
Advantages of Dental Implants over Bridges
- Your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural state
- Implants deter further tooth loss. When a bridge "goes bad", it usually means the loss of one or more teeth that support the bridge. Implants are permanent.
- Don't need to cut down adjacent teeth
Advantages of Bridges over Dental Implants
- Dental Implants can take longer to place. From extraction to healing to implant placement, it can be several months before you get a functional crown
- Dental implants involve surgery
- The initial cost of an implant will be higher than that of a fixed bridge
Advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures
- Your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural state
- You won’t have “denture breath” or odor
- Implants are permanently fixed & won't loosen
- Implants keep you looking young by preventing bone loss in the jaw
- There are no adhesives needed
- You can eat all foods with implants
Fixed bridges and removable dentures are not the perfect solution for missing teeth and often come with a number of other problems. Removable dentures may slip or cause embarrassing clicking sounds while eating or speaking.
Of even greater concern, fixed bridges often require the partial cutting of adjacent healthy teeth, and removable dentures may lead to bone loss in the area where the tooth or teeth are missing.
Recurrent decay, periodontal (gum) disease and other factors often doom fixed bridgework to early failure. For these reasons, fixed bridges and removable dentures usually need to be replaced every 7 to 15 years, compared to an average 25-year life span for dental implants.
Call us at (626) 768-3130 to schedule your appointment or click here to request an appointment online.
Are you a candidate for Dental Implants?
If you are a candidate for dental implants, Dr. Vashi can perform the entire procedure for you using high-tech equipment.
The ideal candidate for a dental implant has good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant.
Some people who have lost bone in their jaw still can get implants by having a bone-grafting procedure. People who are currently wearing partial or full dentures can replace these with dental implants, or use implants to stabilize and secure the denture, making it much more comfortable.
People who are not good candidates for dental implants include:
- Young patients whose jawbones have not fully developed
- Pregnant women
- Heavy smokers - smoking impedes healing in the mouth and can reduce the likelihood that implants will be successful. However, this doesn't eliminate the possibility of getting dental implants.
- People with certain medical conditions.
- Patients who take certain medications
- People who severely grind or clench their teeth — these habits can place too much pressure on the implants and increase the risk of failure.
You can take advantage of our no-charge consultation where Dr. Vashi will recommend the solution that works best for you.
Call us at (626) 768-3130 to schedule your appointment or click here to request an appointment online.
