Jan
Dental implants are widely considered the best alternative to natural teeth. Implants are natural-looking, long-lasting restorations that fuse with your jaw, making them reliable, strong, and the closest thing available to natural teeth. They will restore your smile, while protecting surrounding teeth from potential damage or loss.
Dr. Terri Nguyen at West Portal Family Dentistry is a board-certified dentist who specializes in the placement of dental implants. She works closely with each patient, informing you about the process and benefits of implants, without pushing unnecessary treatments. If dental implants are right for you, she will help you understand what to expect from the procedure, preparing you every step of the way for your long-lasting restorations.
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. Missing or damaged teeth can take a toll on one’s self-esteem, and if left untreated, they can lead to serious dental problems, like the softening of your jaw, the loss of additional teeth, or the erosion of your smile’s natural shape. Your teeth work in alliance together, and untreated gaps or weak spots can impact your whole mouth.
Luckily, patients living in the San Francisco area have an effective, affordable solution for damaged or missing teeth. A quick consultation with Dr. Nguyen will determine if dental implants are the right solution. If so, the installation will take place over a few visits.
You will begin with a comprehensive evaluation. CT imaging will provide Dr. Nguyen with a 3D view of your mouth, helping plan the placement of the implant and identify any other potential needs to help strengthen the foundation of your jaw before placing the implant post. Aided by that information, Dr. Nguyen will make a small incision in your gums, through which a small hole is made in your jawbone. The implant post is then placed in the small hole, and naturally incorporated into your jaw over a period of a few months. This is what grants implants their strength—they are fused into your jawbone, just like natural teeth. After the post is naturally incorporated into your jaw, you will return to have impressions taken. These are used by Dr. Nguyen’s lab to fabricate a final crown, which can be screwed into the post. When you crown is ready, you will return to have it installed and polished. You will leave that day with a fully restored smile.
If you are living with damaged or missing teeth, dental implants may be the best solution for you. To make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Nguyen and find out your options for how to get your smile back on track, call West Portal Family Dentistry at (415) 604-9292.