Are you a candidate?
Most adults missing a tooth are. Three things decide it, and all three are measurable at a single visit:
- Enough bone to hold the implant. The jaw begins shrinking as soon as a tooth is lost, so the longer a gap has been there, the more likely grafting is part of the plan. A 3D scan measures the bone you have rather than estimating it.
- Gums free of active disease. An implant is anchored in bone, and periodontal infection attacks bone. Active disease is treated first — see periodontal treatment.
- General health. Uncontrolled diabetes and smoking both lower success rates. Neither rules you out, but both change how we plan and what we tell you to expect.
More detail on the assessment: am I a candidate for dental implants?
The process, step by step
- Consultation and 3D imaging. A clinical exam plus a cone-beam scan showing bone volume, bone density and the position of nerves and sinuses. You leave with a written treatment plan and an itemised estimate.
- Any groundwork first. Extraction of a failing tooth, periodontal treatment, or bone grafting where the site needs rebuilding. Some of this happens at the same appointment as the implant; some needs its own healing time.
- Implant placement. A titanium post is placed into the planned position under local anaesthetic, with sedation available. Most patients are back to normal activity the next day.
- Osseointegration. Over roughly three to six months the bone grows onto the implant surface and locks it in place. A temporary restoration covers the gap while that happens.
- Abutment and final crown. Once the implant is confirmed stable, a connector is fitted and a custom crown is made to match the shade and shape of your own teeth, then adjusted against your bite.
A fuller walkthrough is on our implant procedure page.
Which option fits your case
- Single-tooth implant. One post, one crown, neighbouring teeth untouched. See single-tooth implants.
- Several teeth in a row. Two implants can carry a three-unit bridge, so you do not need one implant per tooth.
- Implant-supported dentures. A denture that clips onto implants instead of resting on the gum — no adhesive, no rocking.
- All-on-4 full-arch implants. A fixed full arch on four implants, with a provisional bridge fitted the same day.
Comparing the alternatives first? Read implants vs. dentures and options for replacing missing teeth.
If you need bone grafting first
Bone loss at the implant site is common and usually solvable. Graft material is placed into the defect and the body rebuilds bone in it over several months, after which the implant goes in normally. Small defects are often grafted at the same appointment as the implant. Because Dr. Hanasab is a periodontist, this is core training rather than a referral — more in bone grafting for dental implants.
Recovery, and what the first weeks feel like
Most patients are surprised by how ordinary it is. Expect soreness and swelling for two to three days, managed with over-the-counter pain relief, and softer food for about a week. Strenuous exercise waits a few days. The longer part of recovery is invisible: the months of bone fusing to the implant, during which there is usually nothing to feel at all.
Week-by-week detail is in our implant recovery timeline, and the aftercare instructions are on post-op care for dental implants.
What dental implants cost in West Covina
Implant treatment is priced per case, not per mouth, because the variables are real: whether a tooth needs removing first, whether the site needs grafting, whether you are replacing one tooth or a full arch, and which restoration goes on top. Any single number quoted before a scan is a guess.
What you can count on is the sequence. After your 3D scan you receive a written, itemised estimate with your insurance benefits already verified, before you commit to anything. Many plans that once excluded implants now contribute toward the extraction, the crown or part of the implant. CareCredit, Cherry, Alphaeon and Sunbit financing are accepted — see patient information.
For a breakdown of what drives the total, read what dental implants cost in West Covina.
Why a periodontist places your implant
An implant lives in bone and is surrounded by gum tissue. Those two things are a periodontist's entire specialty. Dr. Homan Hanasab holds a DDS plus an MS in Periodontics and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies, and he is the LA Clippers team dentist. In practice that means grafting, gum contouring, the surgery and the restoration are handled by one clinician in one office — not split across a surgeon and a restoring dentist who have never met.
Serving West Covina and the San Gabriel Valley
We are at 436 N. Sunset Ave, West Covina, CA 91790, minutes from the 10 and the 605. Implant patients come to us from Covina, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Rowland Heights and Hacienda Heights.
