Dental Implants

Missing teeth change everything. That once-favorite steak becomes too difficult to chew. Fresh, crunchy vegetables require too much effort. You catch yourself covering your mouth when you laugh or turning away when someone wants to take a photo. These small adjustments add up, affecting your nutrition, comfort, confidence, and enjoyment of life.

Dr. Norma Vazquez offers a permanent solution: dental implants. With over 30 years of experience, she has helped countless patients restore their smiles, confidence, and quality of life through expert implant care.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the closest thing to natural teeth modern dentistry offers. An implant has three parts:

• A titanium post that replaces your tooth root
• An abutment (connector) that attaches to the post
• A custom-made crown that looks and functions like a natural tooth

Unlike bridges, which rely on neighboring teeth for support, or dentures, which sit on the gums, implants are anchored in the jawbone just like natural teeth. This provides exceptional stability and prevents bone loss.

The first step is an examination with Dr. Vazquez to check your oral health, take digital x-rays, and discuss your goals and concerns. She'll explain your options and develop a personalized treatment plan, including the following steps:

• Implant Preparation — Some patients need preliminary procedures like bone grafting or sinus lifts to ensure enough jawbone is available to support the implant. Dr. Vazquez offers these specialized procedures to help more patients qualify for implants.
• Implant Placement — First, we thoroughly numb the treatment area and precisely place the implant post in your jawbone. We also offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for anxious patients. However, most patients are surprised by how comfortable the procedure is and how little discomfort they experience afterward.
• Implant Healing Period — Over the next 3–6 months, the implant integrates with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. During this time, you may wear a temporary restoration so you don't have to go without teeth.
• Final Restoration — After healing, Dr. Vazquez attaches a custom-made crown, bridge, or denture designed to match your natural teeth in shape, size, and color.

Each tooth in your mouth plays an important role. When teeth are lost, the remaining teeth shift out of position. Without tooth roots to stimulate the jawbone, it begins to shrink, and your face may appear sunken or aged. Chewing becomes difficult, limiting your food choices and potentially affecting your nutrition and overall health.

Restore Your Smile Today

Don't let missing teeth affect your quality of life any longer. Contact our dental implant dentist in Riverside, CA, at (951) 683-0333 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Vazquez. We proudly serve patients from Riverside, Jurupa Valley, Corona, Colton, and surrounding communities.