Dental Implants – San Jose, CA
Permanently Fill the Gaps in Your Smile
With Dr. Kelly Thanh, you can get the most advanced and longest-lasting tooth replacement right here in San Jose without having to visit multiple offices. She can place, restore, and maintain dental implants thanks to her experience and training, leading to a smoother and more cohesive patient experience that guarantees a positive and lasting result. If you’re ready to have your complete smile again, reach out today to get started.
Why Choose Dr. Kelly Thanh for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implants Placed & Restored In-House
- Same-Day Dental Implant Dentures
- Treatment Provided Using Latest Dental Technology
What are Dental Implants?
If you were to see someone smile who has dental implants, you wouldn’t be able to tell, and that’s part of the magic of the treatment! In truth, a patient’s new teeth are anchored to their jaw using small titanium posts that act like new tooth roots. They actually bond with the surrounding bone just like natural teeth, creating an extremely stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
When you choose our practice for dental implants, you don’t need to worry about going to a specialist across town to have the implant posts placed. We’re able to complete the entire process in-office; you’ll have our friendly, knowledgeable team to help you every step of the way on the path to rebuilding your smile. To make sure that you’re truly ready for the dental implant process, here’s a closer look at the four main steps involved.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
An initial consultation gives our team the opportunity to make sure dental implants are truly right for you. We will use the latest technology to evaluate the current state of your mouth and jaw in order to figure out whether you’re a candidate for dental implant surgery. Note that even if you aren’t currently able to have dental implants placed, you might be eligible for the procedure after bone grafting or other preliminary treatments.
If we find that dental implants are a good fit for you, we can go over your options and work with you to put together a treatment plan. We’ll let you know what you can expect in terms of cost and how long the process may take.
Dental Implant Surgery
Dental implant posts need to be surgically inserted into specific parts of your jaw. To do this, we will need to open your gum tissues so that we can work with the bone underneath. Each post will be placed at a carefully chosen angle. Then the gums will be sutured shut, and protective caps will be attached to each of the posts.
If you’re nervous about having dental implant surgery performed, rest assured that your comfort matters to us. Before the surgery begins, we will numb your mouth with a local anesthetic.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Thanks to osseointegration, your dental implants will gradually bond with the bone around them, essentially becoming part of your jaw. This process can take anywhere from three to six months depending on the patient. After successful osseointegration, you’ll be ready to receive your abutments. These are small pieces of metal that we can attach to your implant posts. Their purpose is to help keep your replacement teeth anchored in place.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
The right number of dental implants can support a crown, a bridge, or a denture. Whichever kind of prosthesis you need to complete your smile, it will be created at a trusted dental laboratory based on an accurate impression of your mouth. The completed prosthesis will be designed to look as lifelike as possible, allowing it to blend in seamlessly with your remaining teeth.
We’ll attach your new crown, bridge, or denture to your implant posts during one final appointment. Once they’re in place, we can give you tips for taking care of your newly re-completed grin.
Advanced Dental Implant Procedures
It may be necessary to take a few extra steps to ensure the success of your dental implants. For example, our team may use PRF therapy to help your mouth heal faster once the implant posts have been placed. We can also perform bone grafting to give your dental implants plenty of bone to form a lasting bond with. Before you begin the dental implant process, it’s worth taking the time to learn about some of the advanced procedures that could be part of it.
Bone Grafting
To be considered a candidate for dental implants, you need to have a sufficient amount of jawbone density. Dental implants are meant to fuse with the bone around them so that they can act as stable, sturdy artificial tooth roots. However, when teeth are missing, the lack of stimulation can cause the jaw to deteriorate. Consequently, there may not be enough bone available to successfully join with and support implant posts.
The good news is that even if your jaw has lost some of its bone density, you may qualify for dental implants after bone grafting. This procedure involves opening the gums and applying new bone tissue to the areas where deterioration has occurred. Said tissue may come from a different part of your body, but it could also be supplied by a donor. Once the grafting material is in place, it will gradually become integrated with the rest of the bone. After several months, your jaw will reach the point where it’s ready to receive dental implants.
PRF Treatment
Once your dental implants have been placed, it will take time for your mouth to heal around them. Luckily, our team has a way to speed up the recovery process: PRF treatment. PRF stands for Platelet Rich Fibrin, and it involves taking advantage of the growth factors in your blood to stimulate healing.
To perform PRF treatment, a sample of your blood will need to be taken. Said sample will be placed in a centrifuge, which will help concentrate the platelets and growth factors present in the blood. The resulting substance is then applied to the area where the dental implants were inserted.
PRF is known to accelerate the healing process after dental implant placement. On top of that, it can reduce the discomfort and swelling that you experience following the procedure. And since PRF contains leukocytes (also known as white blood cells), it can significantly lower the risk of an infection occurring. In other words, by applying PRF to your mouth after dental implant surgery, our team can help ensure that your recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Anchoring a titanium post to your jawbone might not sound like the best idea. However, this unique design allows dental implants to offer patients some unique benefits! Along with the usual advantages that come with replacing missing teeth in general (improved oral function, saving you money, etc.), you can expect your overall quality of life to improve drastically after treatment. To give you a more concrete idea of how dental implants can change your life for the better, read the information we’ve put together below.
Day-to-Day Benefits
How often do the gaps in your smile affect your usual routine? If you thought “on a daily basis!” you’ll be happy to know while dental implants are famous for their long-term health advantages, they’ll also improve your day-to-day experience. For example:
- Your implants will never slip or slide out of place. They’ll be firmly and securely fixed to your jawbone, just like natural teeth.
- You’ll have more room left for your tongue, meaning clearer speech. Dentures can be quite bulky, restricting your enunciation. Dental implants are small and sleek – once again like natural teeth.
- You’ll be able to eat whatever you want! Dental implants retain 80% - 90% of your bite force – which is a fancy way of saying they won’t affect your diet.
- They can be maintained with regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups. Your dental implants will require no more care than the real thing.
Health Benefits
Teeth are kind of like nails; if they fall out, things start to come loose and fall apart. Here’s how dental implants help preserve your dental structure and oral health:
- The biocompatible titanium post replaces your lost dental roots, giving your jawbone something to cling to and preventing bone loss.
- They fill in your dental gaps, which stops any remaining teeth from shifting to compensate for the change.
- By increasing your bite power and chewing capacity, dental implants help your digestive system absorb essential nutrients more effectively.
Long-Term Benefits
Compared to other restoration options, dental implants last much longer on average. With proper care, they’ll go the distance for 30 years or more! You’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits mentioned above for several decades before it’s even time for a replacement.
If you’re mathematically inclined, you might have just realized another great aspect of getting dental implants: monetary savings. Since you likely won’t be needing repairs or replacements very often, dental implants start to pay for themselves over time. That’s more money you can put towards your personal goals – like retirement or a cruise-ship adventure!