Permanent teeth replacement by board-certified specialists, just minutes from Old Town Tustin, Tustin Ranch, and the Tustin Legacy district.
Tustin occupies a central position in Orange County, bordered by Irvine to the south, Santa Ana to the west, and Orange to the north. Its blend of historic neighborhoods around Old Town and newer developments in Tustin Ranch and the Tustin Legacy area gives it a character distinct from its larger neighbors. For Tustin residents facing the reality of failing teeth or poor-fitting dentures, The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa offers full mouth dental implant treatment led by two board-certified specialists, just a short drive from any part of the city.
Getting from Tustin to our Airway Avenue office is straightforward regardless of your starting point. From Old Town Tustin or the neighborhoods near the Tustin Marketplace and The District shopping center, take the 55 freeway south to the 405 and exit at Bristol Street. The drive takes approximately ten to twelve minutes. From Tustin Ranch, Jamboree Road runs south through Irvine to Costa Mesa, connecting you to the office in about twelve to fifteen minutes. Residents near the Tustin Legacy development and Peters Canyon Regional Park can reach us via the 261 toll road to the 55 or through Irvine via Portola Parkway.
Full mouth dental implants represent a life-changing treatment for patients who have struggled with tooth loss, widespread decay, or the daily frustrations of removable dentures. At The Loft Dental Studio, this complex treatment is performed collaboratively by Dr. Chanook David Ahn, a Yale-trained and board-certified periodontist, and Dr. Elaine Lu, a board-certified prosthodontist trained at UCLA. Their combined expertise covers every aspect of full-arch rehabilitation, from surgical planning and implant placement through prosthesis design and delivery.
Full mouth dental implants replace all the teeth in one or both arches with a permanent, non-removable prosthesis anchored to titanium implants in the jawbone. The process begins with the surgical placement of implant posts, typically four to six per arch, into the jawbone. These titanium posts bond with the bone over the following months through osseointegration, creating an anchor system that is as stable as natural tooth roots.
Once the implants are fully integrated, a custom-fabricated prosthesis is attached to them. This prosthesis contains a complete set of teeth along with gum-colored material that creates a natural-looking smile line. The prosthesis is screwed or cemented onto the implants, making it a permanent fixture in the mouth that the patient does not remove. Daily care involves brushing, flossing with specialized tools, and periodic professional cleanings, the same routine you would follow with natural teeth.
The prosthetic teeth are designed to match the patient's facial proportions, skin tone, and aesthetic preferences. Dr. Lu, as a board-certified prosthodontist, brings advanced training in dental aesthetics and functional design to ensure that the final result is not only durable but also beautiful and natural in appearance.
The All-on-4 protocol has made full-arch implant treatment more accessible by reducing the number of implants required and often eliminating the need for bone grafting. Four implants per arch, with the posterior two angled to engage the denser bone of the anterior jaw, provide sufficient support for a complete prosthesis. This approach works particularly well for Tustin patients who have experienced posterior bone loss from long-term tooth absence or denture wear.
Dr. Ahn plans every All-on-4 case using 3D cone beam CT imaging, which allows him to identify the areas of greatest bone density and position each implant for maximum engagement. The angled posterior implants are a key innovation of the protocol: by tilting these implants at up to 45 degrees, they contact a longer stretch of bone than a vertically placed implant would, providing excellent stability even in jaws with reduced bone volume.
Every All-on-4 case at The Loft Dental Studio includes a provisional prosthesis delivered on the day of surgery. After Dr. Ahn places the four implants, Dr. Lu attaches a pre-designed set of temporary teeth. Tustin patients leave the office with a functional, fixed smile and the ability to eat soft foods immediately. This same-day approach eliminates the uncomfortable gap that older treatment methods once imposed between surgery and receiving teeth.
Some patients benefit from having six implants per arch rather than four. The All-on-6 protocol distributes bite forces across additional points of contact, which can be advantageous for patients who have strong chewing forces, a history of clenching or grinding, or jawbone anatomy that supports more implants. The extra implants also provide built-in redundancy, so if any single implant experiences a complication during healing, the prosthesis remains fully supported.
The choice between All-on-4 and All-on-6 is not based on preference alone. Dr. Ahn evaluates each Tustin patient's bone volume, bone density, bite force measurements, and prosthetic requirements to recommend the approach that will deliver the most reliable long-term result. In some cases, five implants may be the ideal number. The goal is always to match the number and placement of implants to the specific demands of the individual case.
The teeth-in-a-day protocol transforms the full-arch implant experience by compressing what was historically a months-long process into a single surgical appointment. Tustin patients arrive with failing or missing teeth and leave with a fixed provisional prosthesis. The procedure includes any necessary extractions, the placement of four to six implants, and the attachment of the temporary prosthesis, all within one visit.
This approach has profound practical benefits for Tustin residents. There is no period of wearing a removable temporary denture, no need to avoid social situations due to missing teeth, and no extended recovery before teeth are restored. Patients can return to their routine, whether that involves working at one of Tustin's growing number of businesses, enjoying the trails at Peters Canyon, shopping at The District, or spending time with family, with a natural-looking set of teeth in place from day one.
The provisional teeth are crafted from durable acrylic and designed by Dr. Lu to provide proper function and aesthetics during the healing period. After three to six months of osseointegration, the provisional is replaced with a permanent prosthesis made from monolithic zirconia or other high-strength material, completing the treatment.
When a dental procedure involves placing multiple implants into the jawbone, managing bone deficiencies, navigating around nerves and sinuses, and coordinating with a prosthetic design, the surgeon's training and experience become the most critical variables in determining the outcome. Full mouth dental implants sit at the intersection of surgery, prosthetics, and biology, and require a clinician who has deep knowledge in all three areas.
Dr. Chanook David Ahn brings that depth. His periodontal residency at Yale University provided rigorous training in implant surgery, bone regeneration, and complex case management. Board certification by the American Board of Periodontology demonstrates that his knowledge and clinical skills meet the highest standard recognized in the profession. His ongoing role as a faculty member at the UCLA School of Dentistry keeps him engaged with current research, emerging techniques, and the academic community that drives innovation in the field.
For Tustin patients, these credentials mean that the surgeon placing their implants has been trained at one of the world's leading institutions, has been independently verified to possess mastery of the specialty, and continues to teach and learn at the academic level. This is a meaningfully different profile from that of a general dentist who has taken weekend courses in implant placement.
The partnership between Dr. Ahn and Dr. Elaine Lu is the structural foundation of full mouth implant treatment at The Loft Dental Studio. Dr. Ahn, the periodontist, handles all surgical aspects: implant placement, bone grafting, soft tissue management, and the management of healing. Dr. Lu, the prosthodontist, handles the restorative aspects: the design of the prosthesis, the arrangement of the teeth, the bite relationship, and the aesthetics of the final result.
Treatment planning begins with both specialists reviewing the 3D imaging together. Dr. Lu defines where the prosthetic teeth need to be positioned for optimal function and appearance. Dr. Ahn then designs the implant placement to support that prosthetic plan, accounting for bone availability, angulation constraints, and force distribution. This restorative-driven planning process ensures that surgical decisions serve the ultimate goal of a beautiful, functional, and long-lasting result.
Both specialists work in the same office, which allows real-time communication during procedures and eliminates the scheduling delays and information gaps that occur when patients are shuttled between separate offices for different phases of care. For Tustin patients who value efficiency and coordinated care, this model is a significant advantage.
Every full mouth implant case at Loft Dental begins with a 3D cone beam CT scan that provides a detailed map of the jawbone's three-dimensional architecture. This imaging reveals bone density at specific locations, the height and width of the alveolar ridge throughout the arch, the position of the inferior alveolar nerve in the lower jaw, and the proximity and extent of the maxillary sinuses in the upper jaw.
Using implant planning software, Dr. Ahn positions each implant within the digital model, optimizing for bone engagement, prosthetic support, and safety margins around critical anatomy. In most full-arch cases, this digital plan is used to fabricate a surgical guide, a physical template that fits over the jawbone during surgery and directs each drill and implant into the precisely planned position.
The benefits of guided surgery for Tustin patients are significant. The procedure is faster because each step follows a predetermined plan. Accuracy is higher because the guide physically constrains the drill path. Risks such as nerve damage or sinus perforation are reduced because the plan accounts for these structures in advance. And the final prosthetic fit is better because the implants are placed exactly where they need to be to support Dr. Lu's prosthetic design.
Bone loss is one of the most common challenges in full mouth implant treatment, and it is especially prevalent among patients who have been missing teeth for years or wearing ill-fitting dentures. The jawbone requires mechanical stimulation from tooth roots to maintain its volume. Without that stimulation, it gradually resorbs, and the ridge becomes thinner and shorter over time.
Dr. Ahn offers a complete range of bone augmentation procedures to address this challenge. Guided bone regeneration uses bone graft material, often a combination of human donor bone and synthetic biomaterials, covered by a resorbable membrane that holds the graft in place while new bone forms. Ridge augmentation builds up the width or height of the jawbone ridge. Sinus lifts add bone below the maxillary sinus floor, which frequently descends into the space vacated by lost upper molars.
In many full-arch cases, particularly All-on-4, the angled posterior implants can bypass areas of bone deficiency, allowing implant placement without the need for separate grafting. When grafting is necessary, Dr. Ahn determines whether it can be performed simultaneously with implant placement or requires a preliminary procedure with a healing period before implants are placed. The 3D CBCT imaging guides this decision with precision.
Our bone regeneration page provides additional detail on these procedures.
Planning for recovery is an important part of preparing for full mouth implant surgery. Tustin patients should expect the following general timeline, keeping in mind that individual recovery varies:
Swelling and mild bruising develop, peaking around day two or three. Prescribed pain medication keeps discomfort manageable. Ice packs applied to the face for twenty minutes at a time help control swelling. A liquid and soft-food diet is essential. Most patients rest at home during this period.
Swelling gradually diminishes. Patients shift from prescribed pain medication to over-the-counter options as needed. The diet expands to include soft solids such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, pasta, and steamed vegetables. Follow-up visits with Dr. Ahn confirm proper healing and prosthesis function.
The surgical sites continue to heal and mature. Most patients feel well enough to resume all regular activities including moderate exercise. The diet continues expanding. The provisional prosthesis functions normally during this phase.
Osseointegration, the fusion of implants with bone, is confirmed through imaging and clinical assessment. Dr. Lu initiates the final prosthesis fabrication process, which includes detailed impressions, shade and shape selection, and laboratory fabrication. The final prosthesis is placed and adjusted for a precise fit and natural bite.
The investment in full mouth dental implants reflects the complexity of the treatment, the caliber of the specialists performing it, and the quality of materials used. For Tustin patients, understanding the cost factors helps with financial planning:
After the initial consultation and 3D imaging, The Loft Dental Studio provides Tustin patients with a detailed estimate covering all phases of treatment. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges. Financing plans with monthly payments are available, and the team assists with insurance verification to identify any applicable benefits.
Viewed over a twenty to thirty year horizon, full mouth implants often prove more cost-effective than dentures, which require periodic replacement, relines, repairs, and ongoing adhesive purchases.
Most adults with failing or missing teeth can be considered for full mouth dental implants, though certain factors require careful evaluation. During the consultation at The Loft Dental Studio, Dr. Ahn reviews:
Tustin patients who have been told they are not candidates for implants at another practice may find that Dr. Ahn's advanced surgical training allows treatment that was not previously offered. A second opinion from a board-certified periodontist is always worthwhile for patients who have been turned away.
Tustin's location in central Orange County gives its residents access to a wide range of dental providers. The decision to travel the short distance to The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa comes down to the unique combination of advantages the practice offers.
The dual-specialist model, pairing a board-certified periodontist with a board-certified prosthodontist in the same office, is the most significant differentiator. This structure ensures that both the surgical precision and the prosthetic artistry of your treatment are handled by specialists trained at the highest level. It is a model more commonly found in university teaching hospitals than in private practice, yet Loft Dental delivers it in a comfortable, private-practice setting.
The practice has earned a 5.0-star rating on Google across 107 or more reviews, an indicator of consistent quality that Tustin residents take seriously when evaluating healthcare providers. Dr. Ahn's Yale training and UCLA faculty appointment provide an additional layer of confidence for patients undergoing a complex procedure that will affect their daily life for decades.
The convenient location on Airway Avenue, reachable in about ten to twelve minutes from most parts of Tustin, means patients can attend their appointments without major schedule disruptions. And the teeth-in-a-day protocol ensures that Tustin patients leave their surgical appointment with functional teeth, allowing them to return to work and social life within days.
Tustin patients: discover how All-on-4, All-on-6, or teeth-in-a-day can transform your smile. Contact us for a comprehensive evaluation with 3D imaging.
Call (714) 549-7030The Loft Dental Studio • 3151 Airway Ave Suite F-103, Costa Mesa CA 92626 • ~10 min from Tustin
The office is at 3151 Airway Ave Suite F-103 in Costa Mesa, about ten to twelve minutes from central Tustin. From Old Town Tustin or the Tustin Marketplace area, take the 55 south to the 405 and exit at Bristol Street. From Tustin Ranch, Jamboree Road runs south through Irvine directly to the Costa Mesa area. The office is near South Coast Plaza and the 405/55 interchange.
All-on-4 uses four strategically positioned implants to support a full arch of fixed teeth. Two vertical anterior implants and two angled posterior implants maximize bone engagement, often eliminating the need for bone grafting. Dr. Ahn evaluates your 3D CBCT imaging to determine whether All-on-4, All-on-6, or another configuration is best for your bone anatomy and functional requirements.
Most patients resume desk work or light activities within two to four days. Swelling and discomfort peak around day two or three and diminish steadily afterward. Patients with physically demanding occupations may need five to seven days. You receive a fixed provisional prosthesis on the day of surgery, so there is no gap without teeth.
Dental insurance may cover portions of the treatment including extractions, bone grafting, and prosthetic components. Medical insurance may apply when tooth loss is related to trauma or a medical condition. The Loft Dental Studio team assists Tustin patients in navigating both dental and medical benefits and offers financing for remaining costs.
Monolithic zirconia is the preferred material, offering outstanding strength, natural translucency, and stain resistance. Acrylic options are also available at a lower price point. Dr. Lu custom-designs each prosthesis to match the patient's facial proportions and aesthetic goals. During the healing phase, a durable acrylic provisional prosthesis is worn.
Active gum disease must be controlled before or during implant placement. Dr. Ahn is a board-certified periodontist who specializes in treating periodontal disease. In many full-arch cases, the diseased teeth are extracted during the implant procedure, effectively eliminating the source of infection as part of the surgical process.