DENTAL IMPLANTS IN PLEASANT HILL, CA
REBUILD YOUR SMILE WITH DENTAL IMPLANTS
Of all the ways modern dentistry has to replace missing teeth, dental implants are by far the best. There is no tooth replacement option that will give you a longer-lasting result. Implants also help preserve tooth-supporting bone that naturally deteriorates when a tooth is lost. Loss of bone is one of the major hidden consequences of losing teeth.
DR. PHILIP VASSILOPOULOS & JACKIE
Your Implant Specialist Team
Dr. Philip Vassilopoulos received his first dental degree from the University of Athens in Greece and completed his Certificate in Periodontology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Vassilopoulos is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Fellow of the American and International College of Dentists. He joined the UAB faculty and served throughout his time there as a Clinic Director, Predoctoral Director, and Postgraduate Director within the ranks of clinical instructor, clinical assistant professor, and clinical associate professor. He also went back to school at UAB to receive a second degree in Dentistry. The additional knowledge and training he has acquired has enabled him to communicate better and provide closer collaboration with his restorative colleagues.
Dr. Vassilopoulos enjoys living in the East Bay area of California. His hobbies include following his favorite sports teams, listening to music, and traveling. Philip enjoys spending time with his family; he is married and has one daughter.
A dental implant most often takes the form of a small, screw-shaped titanium post that replaces the root-part of a missing tooth. The surgical procedure used to place an implant is actually quite minor and routine, requiring only local anesthesia in most cases. After a healing period, the implant is topped with a lifelike crown custom-made to match your existing natural teeth. Implants have a documented success rate of over 95%, which is significantly higher than any other tooth replacement option.
How Implants Work
During a minor surgical procedure, your dental implant is inserted directly into the jawbone in the space vacated by the missing tooth. It will then be left to heal for a period of months before the final crown is attached. During this healing period, the implant actually fuses to the bone surrounding it.
Tooth Replacement Options Using Dental Implants
Replace One Tooth
When you have one tooth missing, a single implant is inserted into the bone to replace the root part of that tooth; a crown then goes on top to simulate an actual tooth. This treatment choice has the highest success rate, making it the best long-term investment for replacing a single missing tooth. Even if the initial cost is slightly higher than other options, it is the most cost-effective solution over time. An implant will never decay or need root canal treatment, and feels just like the tooth that was there.
Replace Multiple Teeth
When you have more than one tooth missing, implants provide an ideal replacement mechanism. You don't even need one implant for every missing tooth. Instead, implant teeth can act as supports for fixed bridgework. For example, if you are missing three teeth in a row, we can place two implants, one on either side of the gap, and a crown in between that has no implant underneath. That way, you won't need to use any of your remaining natural teeth as bridge supports, which could weaken them and make them more susceptible to decay.
Replace All Teeth Permanently
Implants can support an entire arch of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed into the mouth and are never removed. Sometimes the new teeth can be supported by as few as 4 implants. It's comparable to the structure of a table, which only needs 4 legs to hold it up. In cases where jawbone density and volume have deteriorated, 5 or 6 implants might be needed to support a row of 10 to 12 teeth. Dental implant replacement teeth protect your jawbone, won't slip, and should last a lifetime.
Support Removable Dentures
Implants can even make removable dentures more comfortable, effective and healthier to wear. Traditional dentures rest on the gums and put pressure on the underlying bone. This accelerates bone loss so that the jaw shrinks and the dentures slip, particularly on the bottom. But today dentists can attach a removable denture onto implants, transferring that pressure into the bone structure rather than the bone surface. This prevents the dentures from slipping while you eat and speak, and preserves the bone directly beneath them.
Implant Care and Maintenance
There are only two ways an implant can lose attachment to the bone and fail once it has successfully fused: poor oral hygiene or excessive biting forces. Poor oral hygiene and/or a lack of regular cleanings can lead to a destructive bacterial infection called peri-implantitis. Flossing and brushing your teeth on a daily basis, along with regular professional cleanings, can prevent this. Excessive biting forces can come from either a habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, or an insufficient number of implants to handle the forces generated by your bite. You should receive the correct number of implants so this does not happen. And if you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, a nightguard will be recommended to protect your implants. After all, implants are a long-term investment in your smile, your health and your well-being, so it's best to protect your investment.
Dental Implant Procedures
Dental implants serve as replacement tooth roots and slow or stop jawbone resorption by supporting restorations for missing teeth. Missing tooth replacement implantation procedure is classified as a prosthetic (artificial replacement) dental operation but is also regarded as a cosmetic dental procedure.
People who have lost their teeth may have difficulty being able to smile or interacting. Additionally, the inconsistencies in biting brought on by tooth loss can negatively affect eating habits, which can result in secondary health issues including malnutrition. If you are missing a tooth or teeth please come in to see us at Muir Hill Dental located in Pleasant Hill, CA to see if a tooth implant is right for you.
Dental implants restore the strength and stability needed for people to eat all the foods they enjoy without having trouble chewing. They also help to preserve and stimulate the jawbone, reducing bone loss and supporting facial features.
Since it normally only requires a topical anesthetic, placing an implant is frequently simpler than extracting a tooth. While there won't be any pain at the time of the procedure, similar to what happens after an extraction, you might experience some discomfort a week afterward.
In some cases, if you're extremely anxious or the case is complicated, your dentist might give you a sedative. Much of the time, only the most challenging patients require the use of general anesthesia for implants.
The jawbone needs to fuse and grow onto your implants once they have been inserted. In most cases, this takes a few months. At the moment of placement, the implants may already be stable enough to allow for an earlier installation of the new teeth.
Any time after adolescence or once bone growth is finished can be used for dental implantation, which is done to replace missing teeth. Before considering implantation, any underlying oral health problems must be treated. Common problems like tooth decay and gum disease might reduce the efficacy of treatment.
Our dental implant specialist will tell you to stop smoking if you currently do so because smokers have a higher failure rate than non-smokers. Smoking can have an impact on the process by which dental implant anchors to the jawbone, known as osseointegration.
You must have a consultation with our oral surgeon at our dental implant center in Pleasant Hill to establish whether implants are the best option for you. They will thoroughly inspect your teeth, gums, and bone density and amount during this session. In order to make sure there is enough bone structure for inserting the implant(s) and to pinpoint exactly where they should be placed, this may require using X-rays and computer tomography scans (CT scans).
They will recommend the best course of action for you based on the state of your oral tissues, your personal habits with regard to oral cleanliness and aftercare, and your dedication to following those guidelines. Some patients need small diameter implants or bone or soft tissue grafts because they have an insufficient bone or gum tissue (also called mini implants). Don’t hesitate to contact our Muir Hill Dental office if you are interested in having this procedure or any other dental treatment like Invisalign in Pleasant Hill.
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If you have a life-threatening or severe injury, call 911 or go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room. We can treat a variety of traumatic dental injuries, including teeth that have been chipped, moved, or knocked out entirely. Please call our office for assistance.