Permanent full-arch teeth replacement at our Airway Avenue office. All-on-4, All-on-6, and teeth-in-a-day by a Yale-trained periodontist and UCLA prosthodontist.
For Costa Mesa residents dealing with failing teeth, ill-fitting dentures, or widespread tooth loss, The Loft Dental Studio offers a permanent solution just minutes from wherever you are in the city. Our office on Airway Avenue near South Coast Plaza sits at the heart of Costa Mesa's commercial district, making it easy to reach whether you live in Mesa Verde, South Coast Metro, Eastside Costa Mesa, or the Westside neighborhoods along Superior Avenue.
Full mouth dental implants represent the most advanced and durable method available for replacing an entire arch of teeth. Unlike removable dentures, implant-supported restorations are fixed permanently in place, restoring not just the look of natural teeth but also full chewing function, jawbone preservation, and long-term oral health. At The Loft Dental Studio, this complex treatment is performed by a dual-specialist team: board-certified periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn handles the surgical placement of implants, while board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Elaine Lu designs and delivers the final restorations.
This collaborative model is rare in general dental practices. Most offices rely on a single provider to handle both the surgery and the prosthetic work. At Loft Dental, each phase of your treatment is managed by a specialist whose entire training and career focus on that specific discipline. The result is a higher standard of precision, aesthetics, and long-term success for full-arch cases.
Full mouth dental implants are a fixed, permanent replacement for all teeth in one or both arches. The treatment involves surgically placing titanium implant posts into the jawbone, where they fuse with the bone through a biological process called osseointegration. Once integrated, these posts serve as stable anchors for a custom-fabricated prosthesis that looks, feels, and functions like natural teeth.
The prosthesis itself is typically made from high-strength zirconia or acrylic fused to a titanium framework. It includes a full set of teeth along with gum-colored material that creates a natural appearance. Because the prosthesis is screwed or cemented onto the implants, it does not shift, slip, or require adhesive the way traditional dentures do.
This treatment is designed for patients who are missing all or most teeth in an arch, or whose remaining teeth are too damaged or diseased to save. Common candidates include individuals with advanced periodontal disease that has compromised multiple teeth, patients with teeth broken down by extensive decay, people who have worn removable dentures for years and want a permanent alternative, and individuals who have experienced tooth loss due to injury or trauma.
Full mouth implants are also appropriate for patients who have been told they need all remaining teeth extracted. Rather than transitioning to removable dentures, these patients can go directly from failing teeth to a fixed implant-supported restoration, often in a single surgical appointment.
The All-on-4 protocol is one of the most widely used approaches for full-arch implant restoration. As the name indicates, it uses four strategically placed implants to support an entire arch of teeth. Two implants are positioned vertically in the anterior region of the jaw, where bone density is naturally higher, and two are placed at angles in the posterior region to maximize contact with available bone.
This angled placement is a significant advantage for Costa Mesa patients who have experienced bone loss in the back of the jaw, a common consequence of long-term tooth loss or denture wear. By tilting the posterior implants, Dr. Ahn can often avoid the need for bone grafting or sinus lift procedures, which reduces treatment time, cost, and the number of surgical appointments.
Treatment begins with a comprehensive evaluation at our Airway Avenue office. Dr. Ahn takes a 3D cone beam CT scan to map the precise dimensions of your jawbone, identify the location of nerves and sinuses, and determine the optimal positions for each implant. This digital planning phase is critical for achieving predictable results.
On the day of surgery, Dr. Ahn extracts any remaining teeth, places the four implants according to the digitally planned positions, and prepares the implant sites. Dr. Lu then fits a provisional fixed prosthesis onto the implants before you leave the office. You walk out with a full set of functional teeth on the same day as your surgery.
Over the next three to six months, the implants undergo osseointegration, fusing securely with the jawbone. During this period, you wear the provisional prosthesis and can eat, speak, and smile normally. Once integration is confirmed, Dr. Lu fabricates and delivers the final permanent prosthesis, which is designed for decades of use with proper care.
For patients who need additional support, or whose jawbone anatomy allows for more implant placement, the All-on-6 approach provides an even more robust foundation. Six implants per arch distribute biting forces more evenly across the jaw, which can be particularly beneficial for patients who grind their teeth, have a strong bite, or want the maximum possible stability.
The additional two implants in an All-on-6 case also provide redundancy. If any single implant encounters difficulty during the healing process, the remaining five can still support the prosthesis. Dr. Ahn evaluates each patient's bone volume, bone density, and functional demands to recommend whether four, five, or six implants per arch will deliver the best long-term outcome.
Both All-on-4 and All-on-6 cases at Loft Dental follow the same teeth-in-a-day protocol, meaning Costa Mesa patients receive a functional provisional prosthesis on the day of surgery regardless of the number of implants placed.
The teeth-in-a-day concept has transformed full-arch implant treatment. Rather than spending months in a removable temporary denture while implants heal, patients leave the surgical appointment with a fixed set of teeth. This provisional prosthesis is carefully designed by Dr. Lu to provide proper function and aesthetics during the healing period.
For Costa Mesa residents, this means minimal disruption to daily life. You can return to work within a few days of your procedure, attend events at South Coast Plaza or the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, dine at the restaurants along 17th Street, and go about your routine without worrying about a removable denture shifting or falling out.
The provisional prosthesis is made from durable acrylic and is designed to withstand normal eating forces during the healing period. While patients should follow a softer diet for the first several weeks, most can transition to a wider range of foods within four to six weeks. The final prosthesis, typically crafted from monolithic zirconia, is placed once the implants have fully integrated with the jawbone.
Full mouth dental implant cases are among the most complex procedures in all of dentistry. They require a thorough understanding of surgical anatomy, bone biology, implant biomechanics, and prosthetic design. Choosing the right provider for this treatment is one of the most important decisions a patient can make.
Dr. Chanook David Ahn completed his periodontal residency at Yale University, one of the most selective and rigorous programs in the country. During this training, he focused extensively on implant surgery, bone regeneration, and the management of complex surgical cases. He is board-certified by the American Board of Periodontology, a credential held by a minority of practicing periodontists and one that requires passing written and oral examinations demonstrating mastery of the specialty.
Dr. Ahn also serves as a faculty member at the UCLA School of Dentistry, where he teaches implant surgery and periodontics to dental students and residents. This academic involvement keeps him at the forefront of evolving techniques and research in the field. For Costa Mesa patients, this means their full-arch implant surgery is performed by a clinician who not only practices at the highest level but also helps train the next generation of specialists.
Periodontists complete three additional years of residency training beyond dental school, focusing specifically on the structures that support teeth: bone, gums, and the ligaments that anchor teeth in the jaw. This training is directly relevant to implant placement because implants depend on healthy bone and soft tissue for long-term success.
A board-certified periodontist understands how to manage bone deficiencies, how to handle soft tissue to create natural-looking gum contours around implants, and how to plan for the biomechanical forces that will act on the prosthesis over decades of use. For a full-arch case involving four to six implants and a complex prosthesis, this level of surgical expertise is essential.
One of the defining features of The Loft Dental Studio is the collaboration between Dr. Ahn and Dr. Elaine Lu. Dr. Lu is a board-certified prosthodontist who completed advanced training in the design, fabrication, and delivery of complex dental restorations. Her specialty is the prosthetic side of implant treatment: the crowns, bridges, and full-arch prostheses that attach to the implants.
In a full mouth implant case, Dr. Ahn and Dr. Lu plan the treatment together from the very first consultation. Dr. Lu determines where the teeth need to be positioned for optimal aesthetics and function, and Dr. Ahn plans the implant placement to support that prosthetic design. This reverse-planning approach ensures that the surgical and restorative phases align perfectly.
Many dental practices handle implant cases by referring patients between different offices for the surgical and restorative phases. At Loft Dental, both specialists work in the same Costa Mesa location, communicate in real time during treatment, and share the same digital planning tools. This in-house collaboration eliminates communication gaps and reduces the total number of appointments needed.
Every full mouth implant case at The Loft Dental Studio begins with 3D cone beam computed tomography, commonly referred to as CBCT imaging. This technology produces a detailed three-dimensional map of the jawbone, revealing bone density, bone height and width, the location of the inferior alveolar nerve, the proximity of the maxillary sinuses, and other anatomical structures that must be accounted for during implant placement.
Using this 3D data, Dr. Ahn digitally plans the position, angle, and depth of each implant before the surgery takes place. This virtual planning allows him to optimize implant placement for maximum bone engagement, proper spacing, and ideal prosthetic support. In many cases, a surgical guide is fabricated from the digital plan, which serves as a physical template during the actual procedure to ensure each implant is placed exactly as planned.
3D-guided surgery offers several advantages over freehand implant placement. It reduces surgical time, improves accuracy, minimizes the risk of damage to nerves and sinuses, and produces more predictable outcomes. For full-arch cases involving multiple implants, guided surgery is particularly valuable because even small deviations in implant position can affect how the final prosthesis fits and functions.
Not every patient who needs full mouth dental implants has sufficient bone volume to support immediate implant placement. Long-term tooth loss, periodontal disease, and denture wear can all lead to significant bone resorption in the jaw. When this occurs, bone grafting procedures may be necessary to rebuild the jawbone before or during implant placement.
Dr. Ahn performs a full range of bone regeneration procedures at The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa, including guided bone regeneration using bone graft material and barrier membranes, ridge augmentation to widen or heighten the jawbone, and sinus lift procedures to increase bone volume in the upper posterior jaw where the maxillary sinuses may have expanded into the space once occupied by bone.
In some cases, bone grafting can be performed simultaneously with implant placement, reducing the total number of surgical appointments. In other cases, particularly when bone loss is severe, a separate grafting procedure is performed first, followed by implant placement after the graft has matured. Dr. Ahn uses the 3D CBCT imaging to assess bone volume precisely and determine the most efficient treatment sequence for each patient.
For more information on bone regeneration, visit our bone regeneration page.
Understanding the recovery process helps Costa Mesa patients plan their schedules and set realistic expectations. Here is a general timeline for full mouth implant recovery:
Swelling, mild bruising, and discomfort are normal during this phase. Most patients manage discomfort with prescribed medication and cold compresses. A soft diet is essential. Many patients take two to three days off from work, though some return sooner depending on their comfort level and the nature of their work.
Swelling decreases gradually. Patients continue with a soft diet and gentle oral hygiene routines. Follow-up appointments with Dr. Ahn monitor healing and ensure the provisional prosthesis is functioning properly. Most patients feel comfortable returning to all normal activities by the end of this phase.
The implants are actively integrating with the jawbone during this period. Patients can gradually introduce firmer foods. The provisional prosthesis continues to function well and looks natural. Regular check-ups monitor the integration process.
Once 3D imaging and clinical evaluation confirm that the implants have fully integrated with the bone, Dr. Lu begins fabricating the final prosthesis. This process involves taking detailed impressions or digital scans, selecting the shade and shape of the teeth, and crafting the permanent restoration. The final prosthesis is then placed and adjusted for optimal fit, function, and aesthetics.
The cost of full mouth dental implants reflects the complexity of the treatment, the materials used, and the expertise of the specialists performing the work. Several factors influence the total investment:
At The Loft Dental Studio, a detailed cost estimate is provided after the initial consultation and 3D imaging evaluation. This estimate includes all phases of treatment from surgery through final prosthesis delivery. Financing options are available to make full mouth implant treatment accessible to Costa Mesa patients.
When comparing costs, it is important to consider that full mouth dental implants are designed to last decades with proper maintenance, while removable dentures typically need to be replaced every five to ten years and often require ongoing costs for adhesives, relines, and adjustments.
Most adults with missing or failing teeth are potential candidates for full mouth dental implants. During the consultation at our Costa Mesa office, Dr. Ahn evaluates several factors to determine candidacy:
Patients who have been told they are not candidates for implants at another office should consider seeking a second opinion from a board-certified periodontist. Dr. Ahn's advanced training in bone grafting and complex implant cases means he can often find solutions for patients who have been turned away elsewhere.
Costa Mesa is home to The Loft Dental Studio, which means local residents enjoy the shortest possible commute for their implant appointments. Our office at 3151 Airway Ave Suite F-103 is easily accessible from every Costa Mesa neighborhood. Patients coming from Mesa Verde can reach us in about five minutes via Baker Street. Residents of the Eastside neighborhoods near Lions Park and TeWinkle Park are similarly close, while those in the Westside near Wilson Park and Fairview Park have a quick drive along Sunflower Avenue or Baker Street to Airway Avenue.
Beyond convenience, Costa Mesa patients choose Loft Dental for the dual-specialist model, the 5.0-star Google rating across 107 or more reviews, and the combination of Yale-trained surgical expertise with UCLA-trained prosthetic precision. The practice is known in the Costa Mesa community for handling the most complex implant cases in Orange County, including patients with severe bone loss, medical complications, and previous implant failures at other offices.
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Plaza, the Camp, and the Lab Anti-Mall give Costa Mesa its reputation as a cultural and lifestyle hub. Patients who choose Loft Dental for full mouth implants can maintain their active lifestyles throughout the treatment process, thanks to the teeth-in-a-day approach that delivers functional teeth on the day of surgery.
Take the first step toward permanent, natural-looking teeth. Dr. Ahn and Dr. Lu will evaluate your case, explain your options, and provide a detailed treatment plan.
Call (714) 549-7030The Loft Dental Studio • 3151 Airway Ave Suite F-103, Costa Mesa CA 92626
The Loft Dental Studio at 3151 Airway Ave Suite F-103 is led by Dr. Chanook David Ahn, a Yale-trained and board-certified periodontist, alongside Dr. Elaine Lu, a board-certified prosthodontist. The practice has earned 5.0 stars across 107+ Google reviews and specializes in full-arch implant rehabilitation including All-on-4, All-on-6, and teeth-in-a-day procedures. The dual-specialist team approach ensures that both the surgical and prosthetic phases of treatment are handled by fellowship-trained experts.
Full mouth dental implant costs depend on the treatment approach and individual case complexity. All-on-4 treatment generally ranges from $20,000 to $30,000 per arch, while All-on-6 can range from $24,000 to $35,000 per arch. Bone grafting, sinus lifts, sedation, and the choice of prosthesis material also affect the total. The Loft Dental Studio provides a comprehensive cost estimate after a consultation with 3D cone beam imaging, and financing options are available.
Yes. The Loft Dental Studio offers teeth-in-a-day procedures in which patients receive implants and a fixed provisional prosthesis in a single appointment. Dr. Ahn places the implants using 3D-guided surgery, and Dr. Lu delivers a temporary set of teeth the same day. After the implants integrate with the jawbone over three to six months, a final permanent prosthesis is placed.
Most patients return to light activities within two to three days. Swelling and mild discomfort during the first week are managed with medication and cold compresses. Full healing and osseointegration take three to six months, during which patients wear a functional provisional prosthesis. The final permanent restoration is placed once integration is confirmed.
The practice works with many dental insurance plans, and some plans provide partial coverage for implant treatment. The team assists with insurance verification and benefit maximization. Flexible financing options including monthly payment plans are also available for costs not covered by insurance.
Board-certified periodontists complete three additional years of surgical residency training focused on implant placement, bone grafting, and soft tissue management. Dr. Ahn trained at Yale and teaches at UCLA, giving him expertise that is particularly valuable for complex full-arch cases involving bone loss, sinus proximity, or nerve management. General dentists who place implants have significantly less surgical training.