Missing teeth can be a real issue for some people. They may lose self-esteem to the point where they don’t even smile much anymore out of fear of embarrassment, and it greatly affects their lives. San Francisco Dental Implant Center offers dental implants to the people of Belmont, CA and the rest of the Bay Area. Before going into what dental implants can do for you, let’s define what they are.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial teeth roots created using titanium or ceramic. Once the implant is placed, it can be capped with a crown that looks just like a natural tooth. Dental implants can be a great option for people who are missing teeth due to tooth decay or an injury.
What Are the Potential Benefits of Dental Implants?
The success rate of dental implants has been reported as high as 98% in scientific publications, and there are both aesthetic and health benefits to having dental implants placed in your mouth.
Let’s start with the aesthetic benefits. You’ll be able to smile confidently again, which in turn helps your self-esteem return. The dental crowns that go over the implants are also matched to look exactly like the rest of your teeth, so no one will be able to tell you even have an implant.
Dental implants also have several benefits over dentures and dental bridges. Implants can greatly improve your ability to eat and speak correctly, much more so than traditional dentures that can slide around in your mouth when chewing and talking. You never need to worry about that with implants, as they are set in place. Additionally, your gums compensate for missing teeth by filling in the spaces vacated by them and are constantly shaping and shifting around those missing spaces. It’s recommended to have dentures realigned periodically and replaced completely every 5-8 years due to this. Once again, there are no such worries with dental implants, as they stay in place. As for dental bridges, they may involve filing down teeth to ensure a proper fit. Implants don’t require any alterations to surrounding teeth, which improves your long-term oral health.
Dental implants can also positively impact your oral health on their own. Bacteria can develop in the empty spaces of your mouth and cause infections. With dental implants, this problem is avoided. And implants still allow for easy access in between teeth, which is important for proper flossing. Also, implants are durable and should last you the rest of your life with proper care and maintenance. Finally and most importantly, dental implants help to protect your mouth and jaw from bone loss. When teeth are lost, the spaces left behind negatively affect the stability of your jawbone. The roots of your teeth are anchored in your jawbone and function as a stabilizer. Since implants are also placed in your jawbone, they stabilize it, which contributes to long-term bone health.
Contact us for a consult or call (415) 992-9188 now!
How Does the Process Work?
Please be advised that dental implants are not a simple one-and-done procedure. The process will involve multiple visits and at least one surgical procedure.
Before anything is done, the providers here at San Francisco Dental Implant Center will conduct a complete oral exam to ensure your mouth can properly support implants. We also must ensure that you don’t have any underlying conditions that would prevent proper healing following surgery, so it’s important that the dentist or oral surgeon is aware of all your currently diagnosed conditions, as well as any medications you are currently taking, prescription and non-prescription. While you may be instructed to stop taking certain ones temporarily, do not stop taking anything without first discussing it with your doctor or dentist. During that exam, we will also take high-definition, 3D images of your whole mouth and create models using them. Some people may need to be prescribed antibiotics before the procedure to prevent infection. If you are, be sure to take them exactly as instructed.
You have the option of nitrous oxide, or oral or IV sedation for the procedure. We’d be happy to help you determine which is best for your specific case. If you do choose to have oral or IV sedation, you will need to arrange for a ride to and from our office.
The actual stages of the dental implant process are as follows:
- Removal of old tooth (if necessary)
- Bone grafting (if necessary)
- Implant placement
- Bone healing & growth
- Abutment (connecting portion) placement
- Gum healing
- Implant placement
Please contact our office if you have any additional questions about the procedure.
Why Choose an Oral Surgeon for Your Dental Implants?
We understand there are many dentists and oral surgeons out there who offer dental implants, but San Francisco Dental Implant Center is different from the rest. We offer a comfortable office environment and supportive staff who will be behind you throughout the process. Conveniently located in downtown San Francisco, our office is easily accessible from Belmont, CA and the surrounding areas using the BART. Dr. Alex Rabinovich is a board-certified physician with advanced training in oral, maxillofacial, and facial plastic surgery as well as a dentist. Therefore, he has expertise in both dental implant surgery and bone grafting. We offer several treatment options, including single tooth implants, multi-tooth implants, and our All-on-Four procedure, which can restore your entire mouth using just four total implants.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about anything. Otherwise, schedule a consultation with our office at your earliest convenience and let’s get started on restoring your smile.
Call the San Francisco Dental Implant Center today at (415) 992-9188, or email us at info@doctorrabinovich.com.