Dental Implants in Daly City, San Francisco & Bay Area

 

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Educated at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Dela Rosa is one of the top implant dentists in the Bay Area with a staff that offers the highest level of care and attention to individual needs.

What Are Dental Implants?

A natural tooth consists of a root and a crown. If you compare natural teeth to implant-supported replacement teeth, you’ll see they have the same basic parts. Both have a crown (the visible part used to chew food). Both have a root that holds the tooth securely under the gum and is anchored into the jaw. The difference is that the implant is made of titanium – the same time-tested material used by surgeons for artificial joints. When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and the crown. To replace the tooth, the surgeon first replaces the root with a small dental implant.

Time is allowed for bone to heal and grow around the dental implant. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. A support post (abutment) is then placed on the implant and a new replacement tooth (crown) is placed on top of the abutment. In many cases a temporary replacement tooth can be attached to the implant immediately after it is placed. If all of your teeth are missing, a variety of treatment options are available to support the replacement teeth.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

• Look and feel natural
• No dietary restrictions
• Can last a lifetime
• Don’t slip or fall out like dentures do
• Protect the jawbone from deterioration

 

Surgical Advances

Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, Dr. Dela Rosa is able to place single stage implants. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them, but do require a minimum of six weeks of healing time before artificial teeth are placed. There are even situations where the implant can be placed at the same time as the tooth extraction – further minimizing your number of surgical procedures.

Dental implant placement is a team effort between an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a restorative dentist.  Dr. Dela Rosa performs the actual implant surgery, initial tooth extractions, and bone grafting if necessary.  The restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis needed during the implant process.

 

Dental Implants for Health

In addition to the aesthetic and lifestyle benefits that dental implants offer, they also provide multiple health benefits. Dental implants give patients the ability to eat a wide, varied, fibrous diet, which is great for overall health. Dental implants also provide regular stimulation of the jawbone, which is necessary to avoid bone resorption and its associated negative effects.

Dental Implants Cost

Dental implants may seem more expensive than dentures and bridges, but when you take into consideration their longevity, which outlasts dentures and bridges by decades, the gap in cost closes considerably, making dental implants very affordable for most people. Call Archstone Oral and Facial Surgery today to find out more about paying for dental implants.

The Dental Implants Process

First, we will see you for a consultation in our office and gather necessary health information and imaging to determine the specifics of your case. Dental implant surgery itself takes between 1 and 4 hours, during which time you will be comfortable and asleep (if you wish). Following implant surgery, the site is left alone to heal for several months while osseointegration does its magic. Then, an abutment is attached to the implant, and finally, you will return to your general dentist for a crown restoration.

Dental Implants FAQ:

How long does it take to get dental implants?

The entire process, from start to finish, takes as short as 4 months and as long as 18 months. This is due to several factors, including the surgical site, whether you require bone grafting, and your own personal healing factors.

Will I miss work?

You will want to take the rest of the day off following your dental implant procedure. However, most patients return to work the next day with very little discomfort.

Do dental implants hurt?

You will have no pain during the surgery. Later in the day, as your anesthesia wears off, you may start to have some mild discomfort in the site area. Typically, patients can adequately control the pain with over the counter medications. In contrast to getting a tooth removed, there is typically less pain, swelling, and bleeding with getting an implant.

What if I am missing all my teeth?

For patients who are missing an entire row of teeth, we offer implant-supported dentures. This is a procedure that features a complete denture attached to just four dental implants.

To learn more about dental implants, please call our friendly team!