Dental implant surgery replaces a missing tooth root with a titanium implant that fuses with the jawbone over several months, creating a stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture. It’s a two-phase process — surgical placement, followed by restoration — and the outcome of the second phase depends heavily on decisions made during the first.
Dr. Robert Thein, DDS, performs both phases himself. He trained at the Misch International Implant Institute and holds diplomate credentials with the American Board of Oral Implantology (ABOI) and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI) — a dual surgical-and-restorative background shared by relatively few implant dentists in the Glendale and greater Los Angeles area.
Based in nearby La Crescenta, his practice serves patients throughout Glendale, La Crescenta-Montrose, Pasadena, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge, Sunland-Tujunga, Eagle Rock, and the surrounding San Fernando and San Gabriel Valley communities — many of whom are specifically searching for a dental implant surgeon or implant dentist near Glendale with both surgical and restorative training, rather than a general dentist offering implants as an add-on service.
If you’d like to discuss your case directly, request a surgical consultation with Dr. Thein.
Why the Surgeon Matters as Much as the Implant Itself
Most complications with dental implant surgery don’t originate with the implant itself — titanium implants have an excellent long-term track record. They originate with placement: where the implant goes, at what angle, and how well that decision accounts for the final restoration.
At many practices, one dentist places the implant and a different dentist restores it. The surgeon may not have the restorative training to know exactly where the implant needs to sit for the eventual crown to look natural and function correctly; the restorative dentist, in turn, has to work with whatever position they’re handed. Dr. Thein removes that divide by planning the final restoration before he places a single implant, then performing the surgery himself with that end result already in mind.
More on his training and credentials: Meet Dr. Robert Thein.
What Can Go Wrong — and Why It Often Takes Years to Notice
The complications that matter most in implant dentistry rarely show up right away. Nerve interference can cause numbness or chronic pain that doesn’t appear until well after the surgical site has healed. Sinus perforation may not cause problems until an infection develops months or years later. And an implant placed into bone that’s too thin or too soft might feel stable at first, only to loosen once it’s under normal biting pressure for a few years.
| Surgical Risk | Why It Matters Long-Term |
| Implant placed too close to a nerve | Can cause numbness, tingling, or chronic pain that may not appear until well after surgery |
| Implant perforates the sinus | Can lead to sinus infections or implant failure months or years later |
| Implant placed in inadequate bone | May feel stable initially, then loosen once normal biting forces apply over time |
| Surgeon/restorative miscommunication | Implant may be structurally sound but positioned wrong for a natural, functional final tooth |
This is precisely why Dr. Thein doesn’t plan any case from a standard two-dimensional X-ray. Every patient receives a 3D CT scan before surgery, which maps nerve position, sinus height, and bone density with enough precision to avoid these problems before they start — rather than discovering them after the fact.
A Patient’s Story: Planning Around a Performer’s Career
One of Dr. Thein’s patients, a professional singer, had lost several teeth to gum disease and needed implants that would hold securely on stage — no movement, no risk of a restoration shifting mid-performance. She also needed the result to support clear articulation, since implant position can affect airflow and tongue space in ways that influence speech and singing. “I need implants that won’t move on stage,” she told him during her consultation.
Because Dr. Thein handled both the surgical and restorative sides of her case, every decision — implant depth, angle, and the shape of the final teeth — was made with that specific outcome in mind from the start. The result has held up through years of performances.
Before and After Results Dental Implant
The Trade-Off Behind “Faster” Implant Timelines
Some practices market shortened treatment timelines between implant placement and final restoration. It’s an understandable selling point — nobody wants to wait longer than necessary.
But there’s a biological reality behind that timeline: full osseointegration, the process by which an implant fuses with the jawbone, takes time — typically several months. Restoring an implant before that process is complete means putting biting pressure on an implant that hasn’t fully stabilized, which can cause micro-movement and undermine long-term success.
Dr. Thein discusses this trade-off directly with each patient, rather than assuming a faster timeline is automatically the right choice for every case.
Candidacy: What Actually Determines Whether You Qualify
Most healthy adults with adequate bone density are candidates for dental implant surgery — and even patients who’ve been told they don’t have enough bone often still qualify once bone grafting or a sinus lift is factored into the plan.
Factors evaluated during a consultation include:
- Number and location of missing or failing teeth
- Gum health and any active periodontal disease
- Available bone volume, or eligibility for grafting
- Overall health and healing capacity
- Smoking status and certain medical conditions
Every evaluation starts with a candidacy consultation built around your CT scan, not a generic checklist.
For patients missing most or all of their teeth in one arch, a full-arch or All-on-4 approach may also be worth discussing at the same visit.
One Provider vs. Two: What Actually Changes
When surgery and restoration are split between two providers, the surgeon typically places the implant wherever bone allows, and the restorative dentist is left to build a crown around that position — sometimes compensating for a less-than-ideal angle or depth. When one provider handles both phases, as Dr. Thein does, implant position is chosen specifically to support the planned final tooth, and there’s no handoff between two different treatment philosophies.
Both approaches can succeed. But if you’ve already experienced a complication with implants placed elsewhere, or you’re getting a second opinion after being told extensive correction is needed, a combined surgical-restorative evaluation is often the more thorough starting point.
What Dental Implant Surgery Costs
There’s no single, generic price for dental implant surgery Glendale, despite what a flat “per implant” advertisement might suggest. Total cost depends on how many implants are needed, whether bone grafting or a sinus lift is required, the type of final restoration (a single crown, bridge, or full-arch), and whether a tooth needs to be extracted first.
A CT-based exam is what allows the office to give you an accurate, case-specific cost estimate rather than a generic advertised number.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Thein
Dr. Thein’s practice is built around a few consistent principles: every case starts with 3D CT imaging, not a 2D X-ray; the same doctor plans and completes both the surgical and restorative phases; treatment timelines are explained honestly, including the trade-offs of moving faster; and complex or previously failed cases — including implants placed elsewhere — are welcome for evaluation.
As a dedicated implant dentist serving Glendale, CA, his practice focuses specifically on implant dentistry rather than treating implants as one service among many. That focus is part of why patients searching for a Los Angeles dental implant surgeon, a dental implants specialist, or simply an implant dentist near me end up traveling from well beyond Glendale — including Pasadena, Burbank, La Crescenta, and La Cañada Flintridge — specifically for this combination of surgical and restorative training.
Dental Implant Surgery FAQs
Before Your Surgery
Is dental implant surgery painful? Surgery is performed under local anesthesia, with sedation options available; most patients report manageable soreness for a few days afterward rather than significant pain.
Why do I need a CT scan before surgery? A 3D scan shows nerve position, sinus location, and bone density with a level of detail a standard X-ray can’t provide, which is what allows for accurate, safe implant placement.
What happens if my surgeon and restorative dentist are different people? It can still work well, but it introduces a communication gap — the surgeon may not have full visibility into the ideal final tooth position, leaving the restorative dentist to work around whatever position resulted.
Recovery & Long-Term Success
How long does healing take before restoration? Full fusion with the jawbone (osseointegration) generally takes a few months before an implant can be safely restored; the exact timeline depends on bone quality, grafting needs, and individual healing.
How do I know my surgery was done correctly? Correct placement accounts for nerve position, sinus location, adequate bone support, and the eventual position of the final tooth — all confirmed through 3D imaging before surgery rather than determined afterward.
What if my implant already failed? Failed dental implant treatment can often be evaluated, corrected, and replaced once the underlying cause is identified. See our page on dental implant failure for more detail.
Candidacy, Cost & Second Opinions
Can I get implant surgery if I’ve been told I don’t have enough bone? Often, yes — bone grafting or a sinus lift can rebuild the support an implant needs, and a CT-based evaluation determines exactly what your case requires.
Who offers dental implant surgery in Glendale, CA? Dr. Robert Thein, DDS, is a dual-trained implant surgeon serving Glendale from his nearby La Crescenta practice — a surgical-and-restorative combination that isn’t common among general dentists offering implants.
Does this office use advanced technology for implant planning? Yes — every case begins with 3D CT imaging and digitally guided planning rather than a standard X-ray and visual estimate.
Are implants placed in Glendale any different from implants placed elsewhere? The implant itself is a standard titanium fixture regardless of location; what varies between providers is training, planning, and the technology used to guide placement.
Serving Glendale & Nearby Communities
California Implant Dentist, based in La Crescenta, welcomes patients from Glendale and surrounding communities, including Glendale, La Crescenta-Montrose, Pasadena, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge, Sunland, Tujunga, Eagle Rock, and nearby Los Angeles communities.
Dr. Robert Thein, DDS
3730 Foothill Blvd
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Whether you’re planning your first implant or seeking a second opinion after a failed one, you can schedule a surgical consultation to discuss a plan built around your specific case.