Dental Implants
Dental Implants in Concord
Serving Concord, Clayton, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hills, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, and Bay Area, CA since 2008
What is a dental implant?
Anatomy of a dental implant: Comparing between natural tooth versus dental implant.
A dental implant is designed based on the natural shape of a single tooth root.
In a simple description: a dental implant is a man-made toothroot
Dental implants are made of Titanium or Titanium Alloy. Therefore, it’s not susceptible to decay as a natural tooth would be
Complete dental implant treatment:
A dental implant is placed into the jaw bone. And is covered with a cover screw. Gum tissue is then sutured and allowed to heal.
After that, a process called osseointegration takes place-which takes 2-6 months to complete. This allows the implant to securely anchor to the jaw bone
The final phase is taking impressions for abutment and implant crown fabrication and delivering the abutment and crown
Osseointegration: The process of bone molecules binding themselves to the titanium surface of the implant which can take 3-6 months
Why Dental Implant?
It is the best way to replace a tooth lost and give the real feeling, and function of a real tooth. A dental implant is a better option than a bridge because there is no need to cut down 2 adjacent healthy teeth for a bridge. It’s also easier to clean. And aesthetically pleasing.
A dental implant is also the ONLY way to secure a denture into the jaw bone.
Why Replace Missing Teeth With Implants?
Single tooth missing and its effect:
All teeth are tightly anchored in the jaw bone. When a tooth is lost, the bone will start to resorb. Neighbor teeth then start to drift to the area of the missing tooth, which can lead to malocclusion. It will become difficult to clean those areas of drifting teeth, which leads to further bone loss, gum disease, and tooth decay.
Several teeth missing:
The jaw bone will resorb and thin. Also, opposing teeth can exhibit “hyper-eruption”, neighboring teeth will start to rotate and drift. Which will eventually lead to further tooth loss.
All teeth missing:
Resorption of the jaw bone is 50% during the first year of all teeth lost. And subsequently, 10% additional resorption occurs each year. This will cause atrophy of the jaw, which will lead to:
- Mouth and jaw collapse
- Lips look thinner
- Increase wrinkles near the mouth and neck
Unlike a denture, which sits on gum tissue and causes bone resorption, the implant actually keeps the cortical bone in the jaw bone as a natural tooth would.
OPTIONS FOR IMPLANT TREATMENT:
Options can be as simple as replacing one missing tooth with one implant. Or three missing teeth with two implants as a bridge or three implants as three single teeth.
Options get complicated when more missing teeth are involved or all teeth are missing:
- 2 implants with 2 locator attachment to denture
- 3 implants with 3 locator attachment to denture
- 4 implants with 4 locators or a bar attachment to the denture
- 8 or 10 implants as fixed bridge
The number of implants used for each patient depends on the level of bone loss, shape and size of the jaw bone, and health condition of the individual patient. All factors will be taken into consideration before our doctor recommends a treatment plan.
Things to consider before getting treatment:
HEALTH: Many pre-existing health conditions like diabetes, and cancer (chemotherapy and radiation) may cause complications in implant treatment. It’s best to consult with our dentist at Concord Smile to check out the risks and benefits before you start
LIFE STYLE: Smoking, which is frequently the cause of tooth loss, is also the cause of implant failure. This does not mean a smoker who wishes to have an implant can never get one. Please come see us for treatment alternatives; and risk & benefit assessment before starting treatment.
COST: buying an implant is like buying a car. Which implant should you get? There are more than 100 brands in the market. Each dental office would most likely use a different one.
Here are some simple guidelines that we use for our patients:
- Made in the USA is still the golden rule to go by. Not only it’s good, it’s FDA approval
- European-made implants can be costly, depending on the Euro exchange rate. Unknowingly, consumers can pay an incredible amount for one simple procedure due to the exchange rate.
- Think long term: if you expect to live 20 more years or longer, think replacement. Why? Here are the reasons: Nothing lasts forever. Implants are connected to a crown, or denture by a screw-retained abutment. In the event a screw gets loose, or an abutment is worn. They will need replacement. Therefore, it’s smart to think ahead. A screw should not cost much, but depending on manufacturers, a screw can cost from $30 to $100. Just like car parts, implant parts can be very costly to replace depending on their manufacturers. It’s best to think far ahead and know what you are buying. Always choose a company with reasonable costs to replace parts. As much as we don’t like to replace anything; there would be a time a plastic o-ring needs to be changed, or a new screw is needed. Planning ahead can never hurt.
- Will the implant manufacturer still be in business when I need part 20 years from now? It’s hard to predict the future. But a company that has been in the industry for more than 20 years would most likely last for the next 20 years. This is when you come to an expert who knows the industry well would be a benefit. Nothing could be more heartbroken than being unable to replace parts for your implant because the company no longer exists.
What our customers are saying
Such a great dentist.
"Dr. Gigi is great with my family. I love the personal attention she spends with patients. She makes us feel very comfortable. It’s great that even my kids like coming here. I never had such a great dentist."
-Enrique D.
Keep up the great work!!!
"Dr. Gigi is nearly part of our family now working with myself my wife and our 2-year-old. She is an artist when it comes to crowns/ veneers. She gave my self and my wife a brand new smile and we couldn’t be happier!! Thank you Dr. Gigi keep up the great work!!!"
-B.S.
Best Dentist I've Ever Been To
"Dr. GiGi is the best. Very professional. Best dentist I’ve ever been to. Last time in I had a crown installed and it feels and looks even better than ever. Defiantly recommend everyone to see Dr. GiGi."
-Jeffrey J.
Contact Us Today
Implant treatment is a lifetime commitment. We highly suggest you consult with our dentist at Concord Smile. Dr. Gigi places the implant and also will be the one who restores the implant. She knows the industry well enough to choose the best option for you, not only today but 30 years down the road. In the case you have lost all your teeth, it would be even better that it’s the same dentist to places the implants and makes the denture. That way, how your denture functions will be taken into consideration better, more thoughtful, and most important of all, a well-made denture that you can eat anything you want without problem. Come to think of it, if you have suffered long enough with a denture, would you want this done right the second time around?