Redondo & Manhattan Beach: 310-375-0514 | The average adult has eight permanent premolars. These important teeth reside between the teeth in the front of your mouth and the molars in the back of your mouth. They work in synergy to bite off pieces of hard food, while also helping to efficiently grind and break down food for safe swallowing.
When a premolar is lost to an untreated cavity or a severe case of dental trauma it can significantly hamper your oral function. People missing a premolar should consider scheduling a consultation appointment with a oral surgeons like Dr. Barry Johnsin, Dr. Trent Westernoff, or Dr. Martin Mardirosian.
For many of these patients, a dental implant restoration is a preferable option for replacing a missing premolar. The treatment process calls for a minor outpatient procedure where a small titanium dental implant is inserted into the underlying bone structure.
Once this is done the surrounding bone tissues will gradually integrate with the titanium material. This process, which is known as osseointegration, will mimic the root strength of the natural tooth.
At that point, an abutment will be installed onto the dental implant to create an anchor capable of supporting a dental crown.
If you live in the Los Angeles, California, area and you have recently lost a premolar or other tooth, you should call 310-641-6124 to explore the dental implant options available at Oral Surgery Partners.