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

Unlike dentures and dental bridges, getting dental implants requires a unique, multi-step process that spans several months. While this may seem like a long time, the long-term benefits are well worth the time and effort! At Our Dental Practice, we’re proud to complete the entire dental implant treatment in our office instead of referring you to an outside specialist. Dr. Dentist has 30 years of experience rebuilding smiles with dental implants and is an active member of the prestigious International Association of Implantologists. While every patient’s treatment will look slightly different, there are four main steps you can expect: consultation, surgery, osseointegration, and delivery of final restoration. 

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Dr. Dentist will review your oral health and medical history to see if you’re a good candidate. If needed, will work with you to complete preliminary procedures such as gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, or bone grafting. Then, we can move on to planning the rest of your dental implant treatment/ we’ll walk you through what you can expect step-by-step including timeline and cost. 

Dental Implant Surgery

Spend first part explaining if they place in-house or via local specialists and the benefits of doing it this way. Then, review procedure (numb the area (potentially use sedation), make incision in the gums, place implant posts in jawbone, close gums, and place protective cap over posts).

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

Explain what osseointegration is, why it’s important, and how long it will take. Then, mention that they need another small surgery to place abutments on top of the post. As you heal for the next several weeks, your final restoration will be crafted from impressions taken of your mouth.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations 

Lastly, you’ll return to our office to have your restoration placed (which could be a crown, bridge, or denture depending on how many teeth you’re missing.) We’ll check to make sure your bite is comfortable and then you’ll be ready to enjoy your newly rebuilt smile. 

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.