Dental Implants in Poway

 

Dental Implants in Poway

Why might you need a dental implant?

Dr. Alireza Khansari at Poway Perio often recommends dental implants for individuals experiencing tooth loss due to injury, decay, or periodontal disease. Beyond filling the gap, implants prevent bone loss, maintain jawbone structure, and prevent neighboring teeth from shifting, ensuring proper alignment.

These implants offer exceptional stability and functionality, integrating seamlessly with the jawbone for a secure fit. Unlike removable options, implants provide a long-term, durable solution without compromising adjacent teeth, promoting confidence and preserving oral health for a lifetime with proper care.

What Are Dental Implants?

If you are currently missing a tooth or multiple teeth, you know how uncomfortable it is. There are many ways to replace teeth, from wearing a retainer with a tooth (or teeth) on it to getting a fixed bridge or dental implants, which look and feel like natural teeth. With dental implant restoration from Poway Perio, you can replace missing teeth with permanent results.

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that provide a permanent base for fixed, replacement teeth. Compared to dentures, bridges, and crowns, dental implants are a popular and effective long-term solution for people who suffer from missing teeth, failing teeth, or chronic dental problems. Because they fit, feel, and function like natural teeth, dental implants are quickly becoming the new standard in tooth replacement.

Here’s a little bit more information on dental implants, how they work, and their benefits.

Dental implants typically have three parts:

1) The implant: A screw that serves as a root for your new teeth. This is what permanently attaches to your jaw.

2) The abutment: A permanent, but removable by your doctor, connector that supports and holds a tooth or set of teeth.

3) The crown (or prosthetic tooth): This is the part of the tooth that you can see. It’s usually made of zirconium or porcelain for durability and good looks.

If you’re ready to learn more, watch our Dental Implant video, check out our FAQs, call 858.679.0142 or book a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About
Dental Implants

Who can benefit from a dental implant?
If you are missing one or multiple teeth, you are a candidate for a dental implant. There are other options to replace a missing tooth, wearing a partial or complete denture with a tooth (teeth) on it or getting a dental bridge, which requires the cutting into and damaging of neighboring teeth in order to build a replacement tooth.

However, those are more short-term solutions that may also cause more negative consequences, like increased tooth decay, compared to dental implants. Dental implants, by contrast, are the most long-term solution that won’t damage adjacent teeth and help patients feel like they never lost any teeth.

How do dental implants work?

Typically, the dental implant process has a few steps. These steps begin with your regular dentist and end with a periodontist. Periodontists are only needed to do the surgical element, while the dentist takes care of the restoration.

  1. A Consultation: Everyone is different, so it’s important there’s a one-on-one consultation with your regular dentist to make sure the best periodontal plan and procedures are selected. If it’s determined that a dental implant is the best choice for you, the next appointments will be set up.
  2. The Surgical Appointment: Preparing the Implant Site: At the initial surgical appointment, the implant site will be prepared to receive the implant. The titanium screw will be placed in the surgical site. Gum tissue will be sutured over the implant. After this, the implant will need 3 – 5 months to heal because the bone needs to fully fuse and integrate with the implant. People heal and progress at different rates, so the exact amount of time will vary a bit person to person within that 3 – 5 month time frame.
  3. Getting a Temporary Crown & Tooth Impression: The next appointment will be with Dr. Khansari. After the bone has been fused, the implant is uncovered. The replacement tooth is anchored to the appropriate attached post. An impression of this post is taken and sent to the lab for an implant crown to be created; this crown will be the final part that looks and feels like a real, natural tooth. Until that tooth is created, a temporary crown (a temporary tooth look alike) is put in its place.
  4. Getting a Permanent Crown: At the final appointment with Dr. Khansari, the temporary crown will be replaced with a permanent crown that’ll truly look and feel like a real tooth. It’s secured with permanent cement that’ll have you able to chew, eat and talk like normal.

There may be one extra step besides these 4. If a patient doesn’t have enough bone to fuse and integrate with the implant (as seen in Step 2) the patient will need to have a bone grafting procedure done. At the consultation, you will be able to find out if this step is needed. You can also learn more about this straightforward procedure on our Bone Grafting Page.

Does insurance cover dental implants?

Fortunately, most dental insurance policies do cover dental implants but this is based on the type of the policy that you have.

Many insurance companies are beginning to see the importance and long-term health benefits of dental implants, as of right now, it’s probably unlikely that your insurance company will cover the cost of dental implants. However, you can still file a claim in an attempt to get some sort of reimbursement.

Are dental implants safe?

Dentists have been using dental implants for a long time, and the technology has advanced quite a bit. Implants are now very sophisticated devices placed by heavily trained professionals. As of right now, it’s one of the strongest and most reliable ways to replace missing teeth. Although rare, problems with an implant are usually minor and fixable.

But just like any surgery, there are possibly complications that could occur. Potential dental implant complications include:

  • Infection
  • Damage to teeth, blood vessels, or nerves in the surgical area
  • Implant rejection
  • Sinus problems
  • Material of replacement tooth and potential allergies (usually made of titanium or zirconia).

Ready to learn more & book a consultation?

Here at Poway Perio, led by San Diego Periodontist Dr. Alireza Khansari MSD, we are happy to help you fight periodontal disease and get your teeth and gums back to good health. If you have more questions or would like to book a consultation, we’re happy to discuss your situation.

Or, give us a call at 858.679.0142