Inner Richmond Dental Implants

Dental Implants Near You

After losing one or more teeth due to age, decay or an injury, even the most basic aspects of your life can be affected, such as your abilities to eat or speak comfortably or feel confident in a family photo. At Golden Gate Dental, we strive to help our patients enjoy better dental health in a more beautiful and functional smile. If you are considering dental implants in San Francisco, give us a call to schedule a consultation.

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What is a Dental Implant?

Dental implants are the only form of permanent tooth replacement to be secured into the jawbone, just like a healthy tooth root. Unlike dentures or crowns and bridges, dental implants won’t slip or shift in place and can last as long as a lifetime with proper care.

Each dental implant is made up of a small titanium post that is carefully placed into the jawbone to support a custom replacement tooth (a dental crown or “pontic”). Dental implants can also be used to improve the retention and stability of full or partial dentures.

Understanding The Dental Implant Process

If you’re interested in dental implants in San Francisco, Golden Gate Dental is here to help with a communicative approach to permanently replacing missing teeth.

At your first appointment, Dr. Sosis will perform a comprehensive oral exam and take x-rays and images of your mouth to determine whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants. If you have a healthy mouth and a strong jaw bone, you will likely be approved.

At your next appointment, your dental implant will be placed. Dr. Sosis will clean and numb the treatment site, then make a small opening in the gum and jaw tissue. Then, she will place your dental implant and position it in the proper site, according to her implant treatment plan.

Following implant surgery, it will take about 3-6 months for your gums and jaw to recover from the implant placement process. During this time, your dental implant will “osseointegrate,” which means it will bond permanently with the surrounding gum and jaw tissue.

As you go through the healing process, Dr. Sosis will create a dental crown that will be used to finish your restoration. Once you’ve completely recovered and osseointegration is complete, you’ll come in for your final appointment. Dr. Sosis will clean your mouth, check the crown to make sure it fits perfectly, and bond it in place with dental cement. This completes the procedure and you’ll leave our office with a fully restored smile!

Is A Dental Implant Right For Me?

At your consultation for dental implants in San Francisco, Dr. Sosis can evaluate your case and tell you if you are a good candidate for dental implants. Typically an X-ray and CT-scan are performed to determine if you have the proper bone material necessary to place the implant. Dr. Sosis will also verify the size and type of implant that is best for your unique smile.

Dental Implants: Better Than Dentures And Bridges?

Unlike dental bridges, a dental implant is a mostly independent unit and will not require reshaping the adjacent teeth. Because they are secured into the jaw, they won’t slip, shift or fall out when eating or speaking and can be preferred to a bridge or denture.

The Benefits Of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer unique benefits for patients looking to replace missing teeth, including:

• Natural look and feel – Your tooth will look, feel, and function just like a normal tooth. It’s permanently implanted into your jaw and gum, and it will not shift or move the way that a denture would. In addition, there are no wires or bridgework involved, so your dental implant will look and feel completely natural.
• Supports jaw and gum health – When you lose a tooth, the gum and jaw tissue underneath the missing socket will start to deteriorate because there is no pressure to keep it stimulated. This is true even if you get a dental bridge or partial denture. However, a dental implant allows you to put pressure on the gum and jaw tissue when chewing, which prevents the tissue from weakening and receding, and keeps your jaw bone strong.
• Extremely durable and long-lasting – Dental implants typically last at least 30 years, and many patients keep a dental implant for the rest of their lives. They are very durable and have a much longer lifespan than other comparable dental restorations.
• Low maintenance – To care for your dental implant, simply brush and floss like you normally would care for a natural tooth. No other special care precautions are required.
• Cost-effective –  Despite their higher initial cost, dental implants last a very long time, making them more cost-effective than bridges and dentures in the long term.