Dental Implants – Morgan Hill, CA

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are tiny rods that are surgically placed in the jawbone to serve as new tooth roots. Because the implants are made from biocompatible titanium, the jawbone grows attached to them over the course of a few months. After this process, called osseointegration, is complete, we can attach any number of prosthetic teeth on top of the implants.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Instead of running across town to visit a specialist for the surgical step of your treatment, you can experience start-to-finish dental implant care under one roof thanks to Dr. Hong’s extensive training. The details of the process can vary, but the four basic phases outlined below remain the same for each patient.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first and most crucial step of every dental implant procedure is the consultation. During this appointment, Dr. Hong will help determine whether dental implants are right for you by examining X-rays taken of your mouth as well as conducting a thorough checkup of your teeth and gums. She will also discuss your medical and oral health histories with you, as well as any medications you may be taking.

If you’re a good candidate for the procedure, Dr. Hong will create a detailed treatment plan that she’ll walk you through so you know exactly what the process will entail. If you’re interested in moving forward with the treatment, our team can provide you with a detailed cost estimate as well as any relevant information regarding dental insurance coverage and financing.

Dental Implant Placement

Due to Dr. Hong’s extensive additional training through the world-renowned Kois Center in Seattle, as well as her Implant Fellowship training that she completed through the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, she’s able to complete the dental implant surgery herself. As a result, you won’t need to worry about being shuffled around from provider-to-provider throughout your dental implant treatment. You’ll be able to stick with the same, trusted team of experts the entire journey.

Osseointegration, Healing & Abutment Attachment

Once Dr. Hong has completed the dental implant placement surgery, you will undergo a long healing and osseointegration period of between three and six months. During this time, the gum tissue will repair itself and the dental implants will naturally fuse with the jawbone, creating a durable foundation for your restorations to be attached to.

Once osseointegration is complete, Dr. Hong will then attach small, metal connector pieces to the tops of your dental implants, called abutments. This will allow your restoration to clip onto the dental implants.

Securing Your Final Restorations

We work with state-of-the-art dental laboratories to ensure the most aesthetically pleasing, beautiful results. When your final restoration arrives, we’ll call you into the office to make sure it’s a perfect fit and that the shade of the gums and teeth look natural. Then, we’ll attach them to your abutments to complete the process!

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants stand a cut above other tooth replacement choices. Due to their placement method, they have positive effects that dentures and dental bridges can’t match. The result is that they’re so popular that dentists place 500,000 of them yearly. As for the details on these posts’ perks, our office will gladly tell you. Simply read on (or call us) to learn the many benefits of dental implants and how they enhance your life.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Soon after you get dental implants, you’ll notice their everyday upsides. The most common ones are:

• Seamless Results – Because they’re capped with porcelain crowns, dental implants blend seamlessly with your smile. They also never slip or fall out, which helps them seem even more lifelike.
• Easy Oral Care – Compared to other restorations, dental implants are easier to clean. Most patients can just care for them like natural teeth, so brush them twice daily and floss once daily.
• A Confident Mood – Dental implants fill your grin’s gaps, so they should give you a nice confidence boost. You’ll feel more self-assured when you don’t have to worry about spaces in your smile.
• Better Chewing – Once they fuse with your mouth, dental implants restore most of your jaw’s bite force. They’ll thus let you chew tough foods again!

Health Benefits

Besides their everyday benefits, dental implants also have health-related perks. These include:

• A Healthier Mouth – Smile gaps let harmful bacteria grow in your mouth, elevating your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Luckily, dental implants fill these spaces to protect your oral health.
• Stronger Jaw – Unless it’s treated, tooth loss will make your jaw erode and cause facial collapse. Still, dental implants prevent and even reverse this erosion.
• Tooth Support – Untreated smile gaps tilt your other teeth until they fall out of your mouth. However, dental implants prevent this tilting when they’re placed in time.
• Superior Nutrition – Dental implants expand your dietary choices by letting you chew tough foods (see above). That means you have foods that boost your nutritional health.

Long-term Benefits

Assuming you care for them well, your dental implants will have long-term benefits. The notable ones are:

• High Success – Dental implants tend to succeed in the long run, especially when placed by qualified dentists. Their success rate over ten years exceeds 98%!
• Long Lifespan– A dental implant lasts about 15-20 years on average. Meanwhile, well-maintained ones can have a lifespan of 30+ years.
• Cost-Effectiveness – As dental implants last longer, they save you more and more money. That’s because these posts hardly ever need repair or replacement work. In other words, they don’t involve costly follow-ups like dentures or dental bridges.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Besides their lifelike results, another reason for the popularity of dental implants is their versatility. Whether you need to replace just one tooth, a few teeth, or an entire row, dental implants can help the majority of healthy adults enjoy a complete smile again. After Dr. Hong verifies your eligibility, she can begin planning one of the following dental implant treatments.

Missing One Tooth

By placing a single implant into the gap and covering it with a crown, there’s no need to modify any healthy tooth structure like there would be to place a dental bridge. This makes an implant the healthier and less invasive choice in the long term.

Missing Multiple Teeth

We may be able to fill gaps throughout the arch by anchoring a partial denture onto a few expertly positioned implants. Several consecutive teeth can be brought back by securing a bridge onto two implant posts, each placed at one end of the empty space. This method preserves your remaining enamel while also being more cost-effective than replacing each tooth with its own implant.

Missing All Teeth

It’s possible to provide enough support for a full denture using just four to eight posts. Implant dentures are much more reliable than traditional prosthetics; they never slip, and you can brush and floss them like regular teeth instead of performing a time-consuming cleaning routine every night.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Dental Implants Post-Op Instructions

Many patients worry about what to expect from their recovery after their dental implants have been placed. It’s important to follow Dr. Hong's instructions to help you heal as quickly and efficiently as possible. Continue reading to learn more about what to anticipate after your procedure is completed, and please contact us right away if you experience any unexpected side effects or abnormal pain that aren’t listed below.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

Once your implant is inserted into your jawbone, your mouth must form a blood clot at the site to fully mend. You’ll need to be careful not to damage or dislodge it because doing so can hinder your recovery. Some tips to preserve it include:

• Don’t spit. You might be numb for a while after your surgery and have excess saliva, but forceful spitting can cause you to lose your blood clot. Instead, use a tissue to gently wipe it away or swallow it.
• Avoid straws. The change in pressure exerted when you suck on a straw can dislodge the clot.
• Don’t smoke. Not only can drawing on a vape or cigarette can harm your blood clot, but nicotine restricts blood flow and oxygen levels. Your body cannot deliver essential nutrients to your mouth to keep it healthy and fight infection.
• Keep your hands away. Try not to touch the surgical site with your fingers, tongue, or utensils while eating.

Common Side Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

As the sedation medication wears off, it’s normal to experience some mild to moderate symptoms. Typically, they reach their peak about three days after your procedure and gradually fade until they’re gone. Some common side effects are:

• Intermittent bleeding. Slight bleeding or oozing is normal. You can slow the flow by placing folded gauze or a clean cloth and biting down gently to create a light but consistent pressure. This can continue for a few days, but please let us know if it worsens or doesn’t stop.
• It’s normal for your gums to feel achy and inflamed for about a week. Applying alternating cold and warm compresses can reduce swelling and provide temporary relief.
• If you’re hurting, it’s usually safe to take over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen for a reprieve.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

Although you won’t have too many dietary restrictions to contend with once you’ve fully healed, for now, it’s a good idea to stick to soft foods that won’t irritate your already tender teeth and gums. You might enjoy:

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• Scrambled eggs.
• Mashed potatoes.
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• Ice cream.
• Soft pasta.
• Warm (but not hot) soup

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

You don’t want bacteria in your mouth to infect the implant site, so it’s important to keep it clean. However, you don’t want to brush and floss right away after your procedure because it could prevent you from forming the required blood clot. Instead, skip your usual routine for the first 24 hours and rinse gently with warm salt water, instead. This is a natural disinfectant that eradicates germs while loosening and removing any leftover food or larger particles.

It’s usually safe to resume your daily dental hygiene habits the day after your surgery, but please be careful about your restoration.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Thankfully, once the surgery is complete and you recover, the most challenging stage of getting dental implants is behind you. Usually, having your new dental crown, bridge, or dentures attached is a simple and pain-free process. While you might develop some slight gum sensitivity afterward, you should be able to address it with over-the-counter medications. Patients don’t typically experience additional swelling, bleeding, or discomfort during this step. We’ll ensure that everything fits well and works as intended, then you’ll leave with a newly restored smile!