Dental Implants – Petaluma, CA

The Gold Standard to Tooth Replacement

Dental implants are titanium roots to replace natural ones that are missing. The implant post is placed in the jaw where a tooth once existed, with one or more replacement teeth attached. The surgery to place the implant in the jawbone is typically a simple procedure, and recovery is relatively quick, with minor discomfort for a day or so.

Tooth loss can make life pretty difficult; being able to eat and speak with ease are things that are easy to take for granted when you have a full set of pearly whites. Fortunately, those who’ve suffered moderate to extensive tooth loss can turn toward dental implants to rebuild their smiles and restore their quality of life. If you’re ready to put your tooth loss behind you for good, contact us today to learn more about this incredible tooth replacement solution!

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are placed directly into the jawbone; since they’re made from biocompatible materials, they’re capable of healthily fusing with the bone matter and functioning just like real tooth roots. This post is then used to support a crown, bridge, or denture above the gumline; the process essentially allows the entire structure of missing teeth to be replaced in terms of look, feel, and functionality.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

We’re thrilled to be able to perform the entire dental implant process in-house! Here’s a brief breakdown of the four main steps of this process:

1. Initial Consultation – Before you can receive dental implants, you’ll need to come in for a consultation. Once we inspect your smile and talk about your goals, we can clear you for the procedure. Some patients might need to undergo a supplemental bone graft or some other type of preliminary procedure beforehand if their mouth isn’t quite capable of hosting the implants just yet.
2. Dental Implant Surgery – The surgery portion of your procedure can be completed here in our office; rest assured, this is a smooth process that won’t cause you any pain, as you’ll be numbed. We’ll use advanced technology to ensure that your implants are placed right where they need to be; from there, it’s a matter of closing up your gums so that you can begin healing!
3. Osseointegration and Abutment Placement – Since dental implants are made from biocompatible materials, they can fuse with your jawbone. However, this process still requires a few careful months of healing. Once it’s occurred, the abutment pieces can be attached to the top of the implant posts; these will connect to the permanent restorations.
4. Delivery of Restoration(s) – A few weeks after receiving your abutments, you can come back to receive your final permanent restorations. They’ll be made using accurate impressions, and you can bet that they’ll look and feel just like your natural teeth and serve you well!

The Benefits of Dental Implants

When you receive dental implants, you also receive numerous life-changing benefits included with your beautifully rebuilt smile. Dental implants have a success rate of around 98%, which even holds true after decades. On top of this impressive durability, dental implants also look and feel totally natural since they’re custom-made for your individual smile. You’ll have no issues biting into all of your favorite foods, speaking with your family members and friends, and laughing and smiling on a daily basis. Not to mention, since dental implants fuse with your jawbone, they offer the same level of healthy stimulation provided by natural tooth roots, meaning that your jaw won’t suffer from bone resorption due to tooth loss.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Ideal implant candidates have good oral and overall health. Additionally, adequate bone structure is needed to place the implants. In these cases, implant placement is fairly straightforward. When insufficient bone quality is present, modern grafting procedures can enhance bone mass in preparation for dental implant surgery. State-of-the-art technology will provide information about your jawbone structure and density. At your dental implant consultation, we will determine whether implants are the right solution for your smile.

Missing Single Tooth

A single dental implant can be placed between two healthy teeth without disturbing them at all, and then it will be covered with a customized crown. Unlike a bridge, this new tooth won’t rely on the surrounding teeth for support.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Partial dentures and bridges can easily be used to replace multiple teeth; they can be secured to the jawbone with dental implants, giving them an unparalleled level of strength that closely resembles that of natural teeth.

Missing All Teeth

For patients missing all of their teeth, a full denture can be anchored to the jawbone using four to six strategically placed implants. Compared to traditional dentures, implant dentures are smaller, last longer, and restore more of a patient’s original bite strength. This in turn allows them to chew a wider variety of foods and enjoy a healthier diet—a win-win!

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

It’s important to keep in mind that everyone’s smile is different, as are the circumstances of their missing teeth. Different factors such as the number of missing teeth, the location of said teeth, as well as the need for any preliminary procedures such as a bone graft or periodontal therapy all play into the cost of dental implants. That said, once you come in to see us for a consultation, we’ll be able to review your situation and give you a better idea of what you might end up having to pay for your restoration.