Dental Implants in Carmel Valley, Del Mar and San Diego, CA

Providing Dental Implants to Patients in Torrey Pines, Del Mar & Carmel Valley

Implant dentistry has revolutionized the way we are replacing missing teeth. Not only are dental implants the most widely preferred teeth replacement method because of their stability and longevity, but they look, feel, and function like natural teeth.

What are dental implants?

An implant tooth consists of three parts: a titanium post, an abutment, and a crown. The post is the implant that is screwed into the jawbone below the gum line, and the crown is the visible part of the replacement tooth. San Diego Oral Surgeon, Dr. Tarkan Sidal, places the implant and abutment, and your general dentist completes the final restoration.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Surgical Advances in Dental Implants

Your jawbone is like a muscle, in that it must be regularly stimulated to maintain its volume. Therefore, when a tooth is extracted or falls out naturally, the jawbone begins to deteriorate almost immediately. In fact, studies show there is a 25% decrease in bone width within a year of tooth loss. The sooner you replace a missing tooth with an implant, the sooner it will be able to provide the stimulus the jaw needs. When a jawbone lacks the adequate bone mass to support an implant, we perform a bone grafting procedure to bulk up your jaw. Simply put, having a dental implant placed right away greatly reduces the need for bone grafting.

Dental implants are made of titanium, a metal that fuses with bone through a process called osseointegration. Titanium is biocompatible with living bone and has the unique ability to integrate with your jaw, providing a solid attachment for the new tooth, much like roots serve as an anchor for a natural tooth.

After Dental Implant Placement

When properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime, and aftercare for dental implants is no different than that of your natural teeth: brush twice and floss once daily.

Our use of advanced technology and the latest techniques help to ensure that longevity is a key component of the dental implants we place each day. In fact, we are able to offer our patients a same-day guided surgery implant experience with X-Guide™ by X-Nav real time 3-D navigation. Read more about our guided implant surgery here.

How much do dental implants cost?

The cost of dental implants depends heavily on a variety of details about each individual patient’s case and treatment plan. The best way to get an accurate estimate of what your cost will be is by calling us to schedule a phone consultation. Our staff will happily and comprehensively answer your questions.

Upfront, dental implants appear to be much more costly than traditional teeth replacement methods, like dentures and bridges. However, dental implants last longer than any other teeth replacement option, and they are often more successful than other dental treatments as well. No other teeth replacement method provides the stability that results once an implant fuses with your bone. This advantage makes dental implants the most valuable option long-term.

Going without dental implants can potentially destroy your jawbone. However, the regular stimulation provided by implants, as occurs when you’re chewing, biting, and speaking, keeps the jawbone from deteriorating. So, when a tooth is missing and these functions cannot be executed, deterioration sets in immediately, causing more issues and expenses down the road. Investing now saves you money in the future.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of dental implants is the freedom they provide. The luxury of eating whatever you want, laughing with reckless abandon, and smiling ear to ear—these are priceless benefits indeed.