Dental Implants — Tustin, CA

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Before we place any dental implants, you’ll meet Dr. Zhang for a consultation. This talk lets us learn about your treatment goals, oral health, and other relevant factors. Once it’s over, we’ll use its findings to see if implants suit you and adjust your final treatment plan.

If we decide you don’t qualify for dental implants, don’t panic. You can become a good candidate later through extra dental work – gum disease treatment, tooth extractions, etc. After those procedures, your mouth will be healthy and strong enough for dental implants.

Dental Implant Surgery

Rather than send you away, Dr. Zhang will perform your dental implant surgery in-house. This setup will reduce your treatment time and ensure you get precise results. After all, we’ll likely have access to your dental records – our team will know exactly how and where to place your implants.

Your implant surgery will involve several key steps. Dr. Zhang will first numb the treatment site, keeping it from feeling pain during his work. He’ll then make a small incision in your gums to make room for the final dental implant. Next, Dr. Zhang will place the implant precisely before suturing your gums shut. The final step will be to put a protective cap over your now-set implant post.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Your new dental implant will start to fuse with your jaw after the surgery. This fusion process (i.e., osseointegration) should take 4-6 months, and it’ll secure your implant post. The result will be that your new “tooth” becomes a permanent part of your mouth and remains stable.

Our practice will do a follow-up surgery once you’ve healed from implant fusion. At that point, we’ll place an abutment – a metal connector – on your implant that will secure the restoration. A dental lab will craft the final prosthetics while you recover from this secondary surgery.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

For the last part of your implant treatment, we’ll set or “deliver” your final restoration. That means we’ll place a dental prosthetic that “matches up” with how many teeth you’ve lost. Depending on the number, this prosthetic could be a dental crown, bridge, or implant denture.

Thankfully, it shouldn’t take long to fit the final restoration; we’ll just apply some dental cement. Our team will then make last-minute changes to ensure quality results. From there, you can enjoy your restored smile and its many perks!

Day-to-Day Benefits

Dental implants are the most non-invasive tooth replacement options available, fitting seamlessly into your smile. Because they function like real teeth, you can enjoy many smaller benefits that will be apparent right away, such as:

• Enjoying All Your Favorite Foods: Nothing is “off-limits” with dental implants when it comes to your favorite meals and snacks.
• Improved Speech and Clarity: Speak clearly and confidently, thanks to a secure fit that never slips or feels bulky.
• Easy Oral Care: Say goodbye to adhesives or special cleaning routines—just brush and floss like regular teeth!

Health Benefits

Dental implants don’t just restore your smile; they also protect your oral health in many ways that you may not realize. For example, they can:

• Prevent Jawbone Loss: Implants prevent the deterioration of your jawbone by stimulating it just like natural tooth roots.
• Improve Nutrition and Digestion: Dental implants fill gaps and secure your teeth so you can chew your food properly and eat a wider variety of meals. This prevents issues like indigestion and vitamin deficiencies.
• Preserve Oral Health: Unlike traditional bridges, dental implants don’t require altering neighboring teeth. This helps keep your remaining teeth healthy and strong.

Long-Term Benefits

The long-term benefits are the ones that are the hardest to see at first, but they are some of the most exciting! Here’s what you can look forward to:

• A High Success Rate: Dental implants are planned with precision and made from durable materials like titanium and ceramic. This gives them a success rate of over 95 percent—one of the highest of all procedures.
• Save Money: Despite the upfront cost, dental implants are one of the most solid investments you can make for your smile. They don’t need frequent replacements and will more than pay for themselves over time.
• Boosted Confidence: Restoring your smile with attractive dental implants will not only look great now but will also preserve your face as you age. This can keep your confidence high for decades to come.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

As long as you’re an adult who is missing any number of teeth, you might be eligible for undergoing dental implant treatment. That said, here are certain criteria that you’ll have to meet to be considered a good candidate for the procedure:

• Great Oral Health: We’ll have to make sure that you’re completely free of any complications that can risk failure later on, such as decay, gum disease, or infection.
• Good Overall Health: Since you’ll be undergoing a minor oral surgery, you’ll need to be in good shape so that you can have a successful recovery.
• Sufficient Jawbone: To properly support your dental implant(s), we’ll need to make sure you have enough jawbone density.

Even if you don’t meet the requirements right now, our team can provide you with preliminary services so that you can be prepared to undergo dental implant treatment. These may involve tooth extractions, gum disease treatment, or bone grafting. After you’ve completed any necessary procedures, we can move forward with placing your metal posts.

Missing One Tooth

If you’re missing a single tooth, then we’ll likely provide you with just one titanium post. This implant will be embedded into your jawbone to create your new tooth root so that your dental crown can remain in place indefinitely. Not only will you be able to enjoy a natural feeling and comfortable bite again, but your implant will also help preserve the rest of your jaw and facial shape.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Those who are missing two or more teeth in a row might have an implant bridge placed. This solution involves using two titanium posts at both ends of the gap, which will then be connected via artificial teeth to complete the bridge. This tooth replacement provides greater stability compared to traditional bridges, and they also don’t require any alterations to your natural teeth.

Missing All Teeth

When there’s an entire arch of missing teeth, traditional dentures won’t be your only solution for rebuilding your smile. Our team can offer implant dentures that utilize 4 to 6 dental implants to support your prosthetic directly to your jawbone. The results include a much more secure solution for your bite, and you can enjoy your new pearly whites for decades to the rest of your life as long as you practice proper care.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

You must consult Dr. Zhang before proceeding to ensure you’re a good candidate. He’ll examine your teeth and gums and treat any pre-existing issues, such as cavities or gum disease, that could negatively affect the outcome.

Our team will also measure your jawbone density, which must be sufficiently strong to support your restorations. If it’s not, an additional bone graft procedure may be required to bulk it up enough to move forward. You’ll be expected to cover the cost of any additional treatments as necessary.

Fortunately, our team completes the entire implant procedure in the office, including oral surgery, so there’s no need to pay for outside providers.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

The cost of your implant itself can significantly affect your final invoice, and can be impacted by a few different factors, including:

• The number needed. Those receiving multiple prosthetics can expect to pay more than patients replacing a single tooth.
• The type of restoration. Dental crowns, bridges, and dentures can be anchored to your implants to rebuild your smile, each with its own pricing structure.
• The size and materials. Larger or longer replacements requiring additional materials can be more expensive.
• The brand. Different manufacturers create these restorations to meet the unique needs of their clients, which can affect the total price.

How Dental Implants Help Pay for Themselves

You’re not alone if you’re considering a more cost-effective treatment, like traditional dentures or a dental bridge, to close the space in your smile. But dental implants offer unique advantages that help pay for themselves over time.

For example, they’re the only prosthetics placed in your jaw for added strength and stability. They’re unlikely to be destabilized or dislodged, meaning you’re less likely to require costly repairs or replacements over the years. Furthermore, there’s no need to invest in additional maintenance products, such as soaking solutions, adhesives, or other accessories, which can add up over the years.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Dental insurance doesn’t usually cover the cost of this service, but there may be exceptions, such as if the procedure is deemed medically necessary to safeguard your smile. Every plan is different, so it’s worth checking your details to verify your coverage.

There may also be certain benefits, like exams and X-rays, that can sometimes be applied to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Our team gladly accepts PPO dental insurance, but we understand that not everyone carries a policy. If you’re concerned about affording dental implants, you might benefit from our in-house Dental HQ Savings Plan. For a low monthly or annual fee, you gain access to routine exams, cleanings, and X-rays, as well as additional discounts on other treatments we offer.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Just like natural teeth, dental implants need to be cleaned every day to stay healthy. Brush at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Be sure to floss around your implants, using any method you can stick with, whether that’s traditional floss, picks, or a water flosser. Keeping plaque and bacteria under control is one of the best ways to prevent gum disease and avoid implant failure.

Eat a Healthy Diet

One of the biggest benefits of dental implants is being able to enjoy anything you feel like eating. Still, it won’t hurt to adjust your diet slightly to support your body, your smile, and the health of your implants.

Try to include plenty of calcium-rich foods to support your jawbone and vitamin C to keep your gums strong. At the same time, limit sugary snacks and drinks when possible, or at least brush after you enjoy them.

Break Bad Habits

Implants are strong once they integrate into your jawbone, but there are still plenty of habits that can weaken that connection. For example, if you smoke or vape, now is the perfect time to quit. Nicotine slows healing and increases your risk of gum disease, so it’s best to limit or kick the chemicals altogether.

Also, avoid crunching ice, biting your nails, opening packages, or chewing on pens and other hard objects. Breaking these habits will help prevent fractures, loosened restorations, and other damage to your implants.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Even strong, stable dental implants in Tustin can be damaged by sudden force. If you play sports or enjoy physical activities, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and implants from impact. If you’re not sure what type is best for you, Dr. Zhang can help you choose a style that fits into your budget and meets your needs.

By the same token, if you grind or clench your teeth at night, a nightguard may be recommended to reduce pressure on your restorations. These simple protective appliances can greatly extend the lifespan of your implants and keep your smile safe.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Routine checkups are essential for keeping your dental implants in top shape. During your visits to our Tustin office, Dr. Zhang will check the health of your gums, jawbone, and the integrity of your implant restorations.

At the same appointment, we can provide professional cleanings to remove plaque and tartar from areas you might miss at home. By catching small issues early, we can help you avoid more serious problems and keep your implants looking and feeling their best.

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

Before the procedure begins, your mouth will be fully numbed with a local anesthetic. You’ll also most likely be sedated, which will lower your body’s ability to register pain. Although the surgery itself shouldn’t hurt, your mouth may be sore for a few days afterward. Luckily, you can manage these symptoms by taking over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication and using cold compresses. If your discomfort doesn’t improve after two or three days, you should contact us for further assistance.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

Absolutely! When placed by a qualified professional, dental implants are extremely safe and successful. If you have preexisting issues like low jawbone density or gum disease, we’ll address these problems first to make implant surgery less risky. You should let us know if you have health conditions like diabetes, cancer, or anything else. Since these can make your surgery and healing process riskier, we’ll need to discuss a game plan during your consultation to ensure your treatment goes smoothly.

What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

Dental implant failure can occur because of peri-implantitis and failed osseointegration. Peri-implantitis is a type of gum disease that develops from poor oral hygiene, damaging the bone and gums supporting the implant. Meanwhile, failed osseointegration is when the implant doesn’t successfully integrate with the surrounding bone tissue. Some other causes of dental implant failure include chronic teeth grinding, tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, and certain medications. During your consultation, Dr. Zhang will provide guidelines for minimizing your risk of implant failure.

Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?

On average, patients usually need to take about one to two days off of work after getting dental implants. However, it depends on your unique case. Dr. Zhang will recommend the number of days you should take off based on your specific situation. If your job is physically demanding, you may want to take at least three to four days off. Strenuous exercise could divert blood from the implant site and delay healing.