After tooth extraction, if the walls of the socket are very thick, they will usually fill naturally with bone in two to three months. However, when the walls of your socket are very thin (such as in your upper and lower front teeth), this type of healing will not be as predictable. In these situations, a bone graft is often placed at the time of tooth extraction to help your body fill in the empty socket with bone. This step will maintain the width and volume of bone you will need for implant placement several months later.

Dr. Hirasawa was born in Seattle, WA and moved to southern California at the age of five. He received his undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the University of California at Irvine and his doctorate degree from UCLA School of Dentistry. Later, he served as a resident at the V.A. Hospital on Loma Linda. He has been awarded both a fellowship and mastership in the American Dental Implant Association and is an active member of the American Association of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Dr. Hirasawa is proud to offer the latest technology available for periodontal therapy: laser treatment. There are numerous advantages to using laser therapy as opposed to the traditional methods requiring a scalpel and sutures. Comfort: With laser treatment, there is reduced or no bleeding, minimized swelling, no charring, and no drill noise or vibration. The stress and anxiety often associated with dental work is therefore eliminated when you experience quick, effective, and essentially pain-free laser procedures. Also, postoperative sensitivity is greatly limited by laser dentistry, and recovery time is much quicker than with traditional methods.

A removable partial denture is designed specifically to meet the needs of the patient and can replace one or more missing teeth. A natural appearance and speech clarity is restored along with the ability to eat more efficiently. Partial dentures are created out of a metal and acrylic composition or completely out of acrylic. A patient's specific needs and anatomy dictate the design of the partial denture and every effort is made to construct a self-cleansing partial denture that preserves the remaining teeth and oral tissues. Craig I.