Implant Restorations

An implant restoration refers to the visible tooth portions, or implant crowns, that sit on top of a titanium post surgically placed in your jawbone. The post acts as an artificial root. Once it integrates with the bone, it provides a stable foundation for a custom-made crown that matches the shape and shade of your surrounding teeth.

At our office, we handle the restorative side of this process. That means we create and place your final crown and coordinate closely with the specialist who places the implant post. The two parts work together, and getting both right matters for how your bite feels and how your tooth looks.

Most adults in good general health are reasonable candidates for implant restorations. The key requirements are:

If you've had tooth loss for a while, some bone loss may have occurred in that area, which can sometimes require a bone graft before the implant can be placed. This is common and doesn't disqualify you from treatment; it just adds a step to the timeline.

Dr. Lois Lagier and Dr. Tala Eftekhari review each patient's health history and oral condition before making any recommendations. If implants aren't the right fit for your situation, they'll be upfront about that and walk you through alternatives.

Getting implant restorations in Monterey through our office involves a few stages, and it helps to know what to expect before you start.

The first step is a thorough consultation. We examine your teeth, gums, and bone structure to determine whether you're a good candidate and what the process will look like for you specifically. From there, a specialist places the implant post, and there's a healing period of several months as the post integrates with the bone. This part takes time, but it's what makes the restoration stable and long-lasting.

Once healing is complete, you come back to us for the crown. We take precise measurements and work with a dental lab to create a crown that matches your bite and blends naturally with your other teeth. At your placement appointment, we bond the crown to the post, check your bite, and make any final adjustments. Most patients leave that appointment pleasantly surprised by how natural everything feels.

Bridges and partial dentures can do the job, but they come with tradeoffs that implants don't. A bridge requires grinding down the healthy teeth on either side to support the prosthetic, which means affecting teeth that didn't have a problem to begin with. Dentures can shift, require adhesives, and often need to be refitted over time as the jaw changes shape.

Implant restorations in Monterey sidestep most of those issues. Because the restoration is anchored in the bone, it doesn't move. It also helps preserve the jawbone itself; without a tooth root, the bone in that area tends to shrink over time. The implant post stimulates the bone in the same way a natural root would, keeping that area stable.

For patients who want a long-term fix rather than a temporary workaround, implants are typically the more practical choice.

One of the straightforward aspects of implant restorations is their maintenance. You brush and floss normally. You come in for regular cleanings. That's basically it. The crown itself won't decay the way a natural tooth can, but the gum tissue around it still needs attention, so keeping up with your regular preventive visits matters.

A few things can shorten the lifespan of a restoration: grinding or clenching without a night guard, biting into very hard foods, and poor oral hygiene that leads to gum disease around the implant. We'll cover all of this with you and make sure you leave with a clear sense of how to protect your investment.

Implant restorations are a significant investment, but they're also among the most durable and functional solutions for tooth loss. We accept Delta Dental Premier, Apple Pay, and CareCredit. Our team is happy to go over costs during your consultation so you can plan accordingly.

If you're ready to address tooth loss with a permanent solution, give our Monterey office a call. We'll sit down with you, take a look at your situation, and give you a straight answer about what implant restorations can do for you and what the process would look like from start to finish.