Replace what was lost. Rebuild what comes next.
Dental implants provide a stable foundation for custom replacement teeth. Dr. Rod Strober offers personalized implant treatment for patients replacing a single tooth, several teeth, or a complete arch.
An implant-supported crown can replace one missing tooth.
Implants can support a bridge across a larger missing-tooth space.
Multiple implants can support a complete fixed restoration.
A replacement tooth begins beneath the surface.
A dental implant is a small post surgically positioned within the jaw to support a replacement tooth. The implant serves as the foundation rather than the visible tooth itself.
Once the implant is sufficiently stable, it can support a custom crown, dental bridge, removable restoration, or fixed full-arch prosthesis. The final treatment design depends on how many teeth are missing, available bone, gum health, bite forces, medical history, and restorative goals.
Explore Oral SurgeryThree components work together as one replacement tooth.
Implant treatment is planned from the final tooth backward so the surgical foundation supports the intended appearance, bite, and function.
Dental Implant
The implant body is positioned within the jawbone. Most systems use titanium or another biocompatible material selected for surgical use.
Abutment
The abutment connects the implant beneath the gumline to the visible crown, bridge, or full-arch restoration.
Restoration
The final restoration is designed to coordinate with the surrounding smile in color, contour, proportion, contact, and bite.
Designed to restore support without relying on a removable adhesive.
Restore chewing support
A stable implant restoration can improve the ability to bite and chew in the area where teeth are missing.
Support a natural appearance
Crowns and bridges are customized for tooth shade, size, contour, proportion, and the surrounding gumline.
Avoid preparing neighboring teeth
A single implant may replace a tooth without requiring adjacent healthy teeth to be prepared for a traditional bridge.
Help preserve supporting bone
Functional loading through an implant may help reduce bone changes that commonly follow tooth loss.
Replace different numbers of teeth
Implant treatment can be adapted for one tooth, several adjacent teeth, or a complete upper or lower arch.
Provide a fixed option
Depending on the case, implants may support a restoration that remains secured without being removed each day.
The restoration is planned before the implant is placed.
Implant treatment may involve one procedure or several coordinated stages. The sequence depends on the condition of the tooth, gum health, available bone, implant stability, healing, and final restoration.
Schedule an Implant EvaluationConsultation and imaging
Dr. Strober reviews your concerns, medical history, teeth, gums, bite, and available bone. Digital imaging may be used to assess the implant site and surrounding anatomy.
Site development when needed
Tooth removal, gum treatment, socket preservation, bone grafting, or another preparatory procedure may be recommended before or during implant placement.
Implant surgery
The implant is positioned according to the planned restoration, available bone, neighboring roots, nerves, sinuses, and bite requirements.
Healing and osseointegration
The surrounding bone heals around the implant. This period may take several months, although timing varies by implant stability, anatomy, health, and treatment protocol.
Abutment and final teeth
Once the implant is ready, the abutment and custom restoration are attached and evaluated for fit, appearance, contact, speech, comfort, and bite.
Continuing implant care
The implant, surrounding gum tissue, restoration, bite, and home-care routine are monitored during regular dental visits.
Same-day teeth and immediate implants are possible in select cases—not every case.
- The implant can achieve adequate initial stability
- The available bone supports the planned position
- Active infection and gum disease are controlled
- Bite forces can be managed during healing
- The temporary restoration can be protected
- The extraction site requires additional healing
- Bone grafting is needed to develop the implant site
- Initial implant stability is not sufficient for loading
- Gum health must be improved before surgery
- Medical or bite-related factors require a cautious timeline
Candidacy depends on health, healing, anatomy, and long-term maintenance.
Many adults with missing teeth can be considered for dental implants, but candidacy cannot be determined from age or tooth loss alone.
Dr. Strober evaluates the health of the gums, available bone, medical conditions, medications, tobacco use, bite pressure, oral hygiene, and the type of restoration the implant must support.
Active periodontal infection should be treated before implant placement.
The site must have sufficient bone volume or be suitable for grafting.
Health conditions and medications are reviewed before surgical care.
Grinding and clenching may require restorative changes or a nightguard.
Daily cleaning and professional monitoring remain essential after treatment.
Not enough bone does not always mean implant treatment is impossible.
Bone can change after tooth loss, infection, trauma, or long-term denture use. When the remaining ridge cannot predictably support the planned implant, grafting may be recommended.
The type and timing of grafting depend on the size of the defect, implant position, surrounding anatomy, gum tissue, and restorative plan.
Learn About Oral SurgerySocket preservation
Grafting material may be placed after an extraction to help preserve the dimensions of the future implant site.
Ridge augmentation
A deficient ridge may be widened or rebuilt to create enough support around the planned implant.
Sinus-related grafting
Upper back-tooth implant sites may require additional bone beneath the sinus depending on individual anatomy.
S.M.A.R.T. bone grafting
Dr. Strober may use the Subperiosteal Minimally Invasive Aesthetic Ridge Augmentation Technique in appropriately selected cases.
Implant treatment is predictable for many patients, but it is still surgery.
Dr. Strober will review the benefits, alternatives, expected timeline, and risks that apply to your individual treatment plan.
- Postoperative discomfort, swelling, bruising, or bleeding
- Infection of the surgical or implant site
- Delayed healing or lack of integration
- Injury to nearby teeth, nerves, tissues, or sinus structures
- Gum recession or changes in visible tissue contours
- Loosening, wear, fracture, or damage to restorative components
- Peri-implant inflammation or supporting bone loss
- The need for repair, grafting, revision, or implant replacement
- Smoking, vaping, and other tobacco or nicotine exposure
- Uncontrolled diabetes or other systemic health conditions
- Active gum disease or poor plaque control
- Inadequate bone at the implant site
- Heavy grinding, clenching, or unfavorable bite pressure
- Failure to follow postoperative instructions
- Inconsistent professional maintenance and home care
- Certain medications or medical treatments
Implants cannot develop cavities, but the tissues around them still require care.
Bacterial buildup can inflame the gums surrounding an implant and may contribute to supporting bone loss. Cleaning recommendations depend on the restoration design and the spaces available around it.
Brush consistently
Clean the implant restoration, gumline, remaining teeth, tongue, and other oral surfaces as instructed.
Clean between and beneath restorations
Floss threaders, interdental brushes, water flossers, or implant-specific aids may be recommended.
Protect against excessive force
Avoid biting hard objects and use a recommended nightguard when grinding or clenching is present.
Watch for changes
Report bleeding, swelling, pain, mobility, unusual taste, gum recession, or changes in the bite.
Maintain professional visits
Routine evaluations help monitor the restoration, implant components, surrounding gums, bone, and bite.
Implant placement and smile design belong in the same plan.
Dr. Rod Strober has practiced dentistry since 1993 and combines implant surgery, restorative dentistry, cosmetic planning, and advanced dental technology at Country Club Dentistry.
In 2019, he achieved Mastership from the International Dental Implant Association after completing more than 250 hours of continuing education and meeting surgical implant-placement requirements. He has placed more than 1,000 dental implants during his career.
Suite A & B
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Questions before choosing dental implants?
Your examination and imaging will determine whether implant treatment is appropriate and what procedure, timing, and restoration are recommended.
01 What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a surgically placed post that supports a replacement tooth. The complete restoration may also include an abutment and a crown, bridge, removable prosthesis, or fixed full-arch restoration.
02 How many teeth can dental implants replace?
Dental implants can support one crown, a bridge replacing several teeth, or a complete upper or lower arch. The number of implants required depends on anatomy, available bone, bite forces, and the planned restoration.
03 How long does the dental implant process take?
Treatment may take several months when extraction healing, bone grafting, osseointegration, or staged restorative care is required. Some appropriately selected patients may qualify for immediate implant placement or provisional teeth.
04 Can I receive a tooth on the same day as my implant?
Some implants can support a temporary restoration on the day of placement when initial stability, bone quality, bite conditions, and the restorative design allow it. Same-day treatment is not appropriate for every implant site.
05 Do dental implants prevent all jawbone loss?
Functional implant loading may help maintain bone around the implant site, but it does not guarantee that no bone changes will occur. Bone levels can be influenced by anatomy, healing, hygiene, gum inflammation, bite forces, smoking, health conditions, and time.
06 Do dental implants last a lifetime?
Dental implants can provide long-term service, but no implant or restoration can be guaranteed to last for life. Longevity depends on integration, gum and bone health, hygiene, bite forces, smoking, medical conditions, restoration maintenance, and regular professional care.
07 Do implants need special cleaning?
Implant restorations require daily brushing and cleaning around the gumline. Bridges and full-arch restorations may require floss threaders, interdental brushes, water flossers, or other tools to clean underneath connected teeth.
08 Can smokers receive dental implants?
Tobacco and nicotine exposure can slow healing and increase the risk of implant complications. Smoking does not automatically exclude every patient, but cessation may be strongly recommended before and after surgery.
09 Can I receive implants if I have gum disease?
Active gum disease generally needs to be treated and stabilized before implant placement. A history of periodontal disease can also increase the importance of continuing maintenance and monitoring after treatment.
10 What happens if I do not have enough bone?
Bone grafting, ridge augmentation, socket preservation, sinus-related grafting, shorter implants, narrower implants, or a different restorative plan may be considered depending on the anatomy and treatment goal.
11 What are the risks of dental implants?
Risks may include infection, delayed healing, implant failure, damage to nearby structures, gum recession, nerve or sinus complications, peri-implant disease, bite problems, or mechanical complications involving the implant or restoration.
12 How do I schedule an implant consultation?
Request an appointment online or call Country Club Dentistry at (760) 832-7915 to schedule a dental implant evaluation with Dr. Rod Strober.
Patient Education Sources
Treatment recommendations require an examination with a licensed dentist. The educational information on this page is supported by established dental and medical resources.
Begin with the foundation. Design the smile around you.
Schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Rod Strober to compare single-tooth implants, implant bridges, All-On-X, Stabili-Teeth™, CeraSmile®, and other tooth-replacement options.