Dental Implants in North Hollywood, CA
Losing a tooth changes more than your smile. It affects how you chew, how certain words sound, and over time it weakens the bone under the gap. As that bone shrinks, nearby teeth start to drift and the shape of your face can change in that spot. A dental implant stops that slide. It replaces the root you lost, not just the part you can see. At Aava Dental in North Hollywood, Dr. Huzefa Saifee places implants that sit solidly in the jaw and blend in with the teeth around them. Most patients forget which tooth was replaced. We care for families across Valley Glen and the nearby neighborhoods of Sherman Village, Van Nuys, and Panorama City.
What a Dental Implant Actually Is
An implant is a small titanium post that goes into the jawbone in place of a missing tooth root. Titanium has a useful quality: bone grows around it and holds it firmly, the same way a natural root is anchored. Once that bond forms, the post can hold a dental crown, a bridge, or a full set of teeth on top.
Because the post lives inside the bone, it keeps the jaw active and stops the shrinking that follows tooth loss. That’s the part removable dentures can’t do. They rest on the gums and leave the bone underneath with nothing to work against.
One implant can replace a single tooth. Several implants can carry a bridge or support a full arch through an All-on-X restoration when most or all of the teeth are gone.
How Implants Compare to Dentures and Bridges
A bridge leans on the healthy teeth on either side of a gap, and those teeth have to be filed down to hold it. Dentures sit on top of the gums and can move while you eat or speak. An implant does neither. It stands on its own and leaves the rest of your teeth alone.
| What matters to you | How implants hold up |
|---|---|
| Look | Shaped and shaded to match the teeth beside them |
| Bone | Keeps the jawbone working, so it doesn’t shrink |
| Stability | Fixed in place, so nothing slips or clicks while you talk or chew |
| Neighboring teeth | Nothing next to the gap gets ground down or altered |
| Decay | The post and crown can’t get cavities, though the gums still need care |
| Longevity | With good habits and regular visits, implants often last decades |
If you’re weighing your choices, it’s worth reading about our dentures and snap-in dentures as well. Dr. Saifee will walk through what fits your mouth and your day-to-day life during the consultation.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Most adults who’ve lost one or more teeth can get implants. What we’re checking for is a healthy foundation. During your visit we look at your gums, measure the bone in your jaw, and go over your medical history so the plan is safe and predictable.
You’re usually a good fit if you:
- Have healthy gums with no untreated gum disease
- Have enough bone to hold a post, or are open to rebuilding it first
- Don’t smoke, or are ready to stop while you heal
- Are in stable general health, including well-managed conditions like diabetes
- Plan to brush, floss, and keep up with checkups
If the bone in the area is thin, that isn’t the end of the conversation. We can often build it back up so it can support an implant. A cone beam CT scan shows us exactly how much bone you have and where the nerves and sinuses sit, which takes the guesswork out of planning.
What the Treatment Looks Like
Implant treatment happens in stages, with healing time built in between. Here’s the path from your first visit to the day you leave with a finished tooth.
- Consultation and imaging. We examine your mouth, check the gums, and take a 3D scan of the jaw. From there Dr. Saifee maps out where the implant goes.
- Placing the post. The titanium post is set into the jaw under local anesthesia. If the tooth is still there, we may be able to remove it and place the implant in the same appointment. See our tooth extraction page for how that works.
- Healing. Over the next three to six months, the bone grows around the post and locks it in place. You go about your normal life during this stretch.
- Adding the crown. Once the post is solid, we attach a small connector and the final crown, shaped and colored to match the teeth around it.
- Follow-up. We show you how to keep the area clean and see you for regular checkups so the implant stays healthy for the long haul.
Recovery and How Long Implants Last
Most people are surprised by how manageable recovery is. Soreness after surgery is mild and usually settles within a few days. Plenty of patients go back to work the next morning; if we place several implants at once, you might want a day to rest first.
Implants themselves don’t wear out easily, and many last twenty years or longer. What keeps them healthy is the gum and bone around them, so the daily routine matters:
- Brush twice a day with a soft brush
- Floss around the implant with the tools we recommend
- Come in every six months for a cleaning and check
- Skip smoking and go easy on alcohol
- Wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth
The implant can’t decay, but the gums holding it can still get inflamed if they’re neglected. Treat it like a real tooth and it’ll behave like one.
Meet Dr. Huzefa Saifee, Periodontist
Dr. Huzefa Saifee is a Harvard-trained, board-certified periodontist who focuses on implant surgery and full-mouth reconstruction. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley, so this is home, and he treats patients across North Hollywood and the surrounding communities.
Training and background:
- DDS, UCLA School of Dentistry
- MMSc in Periodontology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
- Member, American Academy of Periodontology
- Areas of focus: gum surgery, dental implants, and full-mouth restoration
Patients tell us they appreciate that he explains what he’s doing and why, and that he takes the time to get the surgical details right. You can read more about our practice or see real patient results from people he’s treated.
Dental Implants for Valley Glen, Van Nuys, and Sherman Village
Our office serves North Hollywood and the neighborhoods around it, including Valley Glen, Sherman Village, Van Nuys, and Panorama City. Whether you’re missing a single tooth or looking at a full-arch solution, we can help you get back to eating and smiling without a second thought.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do implants hold up better than regular dentures?
An implant is anchored in the jaw, so it doesn’t slide, click, or make chewing awkward the way dentures sometimes do. It also keeps the bone underneath active, which dentures can’t.
Do I need an appointment to find out if implants are an option for me?
Is there an age limit?
Can I get an implant right after a tooth is pulled?
How do I clean an implant?
Is the surgery painful?
How long before I can go back to work?
Can smokers get implants?
Book a Consultation in North Hollywood
Missing teeth don’t have to be permanent. A dental implant gives you a fixed, natural-looking replacement that works like the tooth you lost. Call us at (818) 792-4500 to set up a consultation with Dr. Saifee, or reach out through our contact page. If you’d like to hear from people we’ve treated, take a look at our patient reviews.