Dr. Michael Nugent was raised in Lubbock, Texas. He attended Texas Tech University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology with minors in Chemistry and German. He then matriculated to The University of Texas School of Dentistry where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

Dr. Nugent came to Pasadena in 2008 and fell in love with the great people of the area. His caring, compassion and down to earth attitude has made Dr. Nugent a great fit in Pasadena. You will notice Dr. Nugents excitement and high energy levels when you visit his practice.

Dental Implants are a major area of focus with Dr. Nugents. He continues his dental implant passion by taking advanced implant training classes across the United States. Dr. Nugent is one of a limited number of General Dentists that place and restore dental implants.

Dr. Nugent is married to Dr. Beth Chasen who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Department of Diagnostic Radiology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. They have two wonderful daughters.

The beauty of the All-on-4 procedure is that virtually almost anyone is a candidate. You can be completely edentulous (missing all of your teeth), missing most of your teeth or have advanced periodontal (gum) disease.

Surgical Procedure: Your day starts early at the Oral Surgeons office. The IV sedation will be started and you will be in a dreamlike state. Then local anesthesia will be given. If you have any remaining teeth they will be taken out. Next, the four dental implants are placed.

New Teeth: Dr. Nugent modifies your new cosmetic teeth to screw into the dental implants. Special impressions are used to gather data about the implant positioning. Then the onsite laboratory technician takes your teeth and puts the finishing touches on your new teeth. Dr. Nugent then screws your new teeth into the implants. You are handed a mirror and you get to see the new you. You will be released and are free to go home and enjoy a nice dinner.

With computer guided surgery the four dental implants can be placed in precise positions that have favorable bone density. The back dental implants are placed at an angle to engage more bone (for more secure anchorage) and to avoid anatomical structures.

The cross stabilization of your new teeth allow you to eat immediately after your surgery. You can eat a soft diet while the bone is fusing with the titanium implants. Once the bone has secured the implants in the jawbone, a new set of teeth is made. The new teeth have a milled titanium bar connecting all the implants. This bar gives the teeth incredible strength. You are now allowed to eat anything you want.

The answer is almost an emphatic YES!!! A huge limiting factor of traditional dental implants was bone volume. Because of the angled dental implants on the All on 4, bone volume is almost never an issue. The angled dental implants 1) engage better quality of bone 2) allow the dental implant to be longer thus creating more surface area contact with bone 3) avoids vital anatomical areas.

Patients with a vast array of oral problems can be helped with the All on 4 procedure. Start your path to increased confidence, self-esteem and oral health. Age is never a consideration with the All on Four procedure. Increased quality of life is the driving goal for Dr. Nugent and the All on Four procedure.

Absolutely! The dental bridge that is placed on the dental implants is carefully fabricated to be almost indistinguishable from natural healthy teeth. The precise impressions that have been taken allow your new teeth to fit the contours of your jaw for amazing cosmetic results.

The technique involves placing a customized prosthetic dental bridge onto four dental implants in the mouth. The name, All-on-4, refers to the fact that patients that a) have lost all their teeth or b) Missing most or have all of their teeth failing can be completely rehabilitated with only four dental implants per jaw. Older traditional methods frequently called for six to ten implants in each jaw.