Dental Implants in La Jolla & San Diego, CA
If you have failing or missing teeth and are looking for the best dental implants in San Diego and La Jolla, we can help you!
Dr. David Sabourin has more than 35 years of expertise providing patients with exceptional restorative dentistry, including single, multiple, and full-mouth tooth implants in San Diego.
Whether you need to replace a single tooth, many missing teeth or a full arch of teeth, dental implants provide the longest-lasting and most natural-looking option. We encourage you to learn more about dental implants so you can make an informed decision about whether this gold-standard tooth replacement is the best option to fit your needs.
Read on to discover how our highly experienced La Jolla dental implant dentist can help you restore your smile and quality of life with the number one tooth replacement solution.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth replacement that consists of three parts.
The post resembles a small screw fabricated from biocompatible titanium that replaces your natural tooth root.
The abutment is a small metal piece placed on or built into the top of the dental implant that connects to the replacement tooth or teeth.
A zirconia crown or bridge is custom-made to match your natural teeth and attached to the implant to complete the restoration.
Biocompatible and allergy-free zirconia (zirconium dioxide) has largely replaced porcelain for the crown portion because it is more durable and can be milled from a single block. Zirconia offers beautiful and natural-looking aesthetics, is strong and resistant to chips and can even withstand tooth grinding (bruxism).
A newer and more expensive crown material called E-MAX is made from lithium desilicated ceramic, a material with excellent translucency, durability, and natural-looking aesthetics.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Whether tooth loss is impacting your oral health, physical health and/or emotional well-being, teeth implants in San Diego provide numerous advantages compared to other tooth replacement options, including:
- Permanent replacement for missing teeth
- Increased support and stability for dentures
- Restored natural function and aesthetics
- Improved oral, general, and emotional health
- Prevention of bone loss and promotion of new bone growth
Types of Dental Implants
Single Dental Implants: Endosteal implants are the most common type and are shaped like a small screw, cylinder, or blade.
Multiple Dental Implants/Bridges: Fixed implant bridges are an ideal option for replacing several missing teeth. In addition to preserving your jawbone and surrounding teeth, implant supported bridges help maintain the shape of your smile and prevent issues associated with traditional bridges. The crowns are fabricated from porcelain, zirconia, or E-MAX.
All-on-4 Dental Implants: All-on-4 dental implants replace an entire upper arch, lower arch or both arches of teeth. Also referred to as dental implant supported dentures, All-on-4 dental implants require as few as four implant posts per arch to provide a strong foundation for new teeth. Tilting the posterior (back) dental implants at a 45-degree angle often prevents the need for bone grafting. After placing the implant posts, a temporary fixed All-on-4 bridge crafted from acrylic is attached to the abutments that you’ll wear until the sites heal and you receive your final prosthesis.
How Does The Dental Implant Procedure Work?
1. Dental Implant Consultation
During your first visit, Dr. Sabourin will discuss your dental and medical history and take digital X-rays.
The X-rays help confirm if a failing tooth needs to be extracted. Our team believes in open communication, so we’ll discuss all options, as well as costs and financing.
If you’re getting multiple or full mouth dental implants, you’ll be referred to a state-of-the-art imaging facility to get a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan. CBCT technology is used to analyze the underlying bone structure, nerve tissue, and sinus cavities, as well as to meticulously plan implant placement.
After the scan results are reviewed by Dr. Sabourin, he can better determine if bone grafting is required.
2. Dental Implant Surgery
To ensure your comfort during surgery and to alleviate dental anxiety, we offer sedation dentistry administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
After local anesthesia and your choice of sedation have taken effect, a small hole is carefully drilled in your gums and the implant post is placed in a predetermined location with the strongest bone density.
For a single-stage procedure, the dental implant is placed and a temporary abutment is attached. With a two-stage procedure, the implant is inserted, covered by gum tissue, and allowed to heal before the abutment is placed.
3. Healing After Surgery
As with any oral surgery, you may experience some minor discomfort after surgery.
Swelling around the gums and facial area, slight bruising, pain at the implant site, and minor bleeding are normal. Many patients manage pain with over-the-counter pain medication (acetaminophen or ibuprofen).
In some cases, Dr. Sabourin may prescribe prescription pain medication and/or antibiotics. Before you leave our office, we’ll provide and review important aftercare instructions with you that help prevent complications and ensure proper healing.
Dr. Sabourin’s goal is to make the healing process as smooth and comfortable as possible and he always works with patients to ease any symptoms they come across.
4. Final Restoration
It takes dental implants three to six months to fuse with your jawbone in a process called osseointegration.
Once dental implants fuse with your jawbone, they restore nearly 100% of natural biting and chewing power.
After osseointegration, you’ll return to our office to have the abutment placed (if it isn’t part of the implant) and then you’ll be fitted with a customized crown, bridge or full mouth prosthesis a week or two later.
Nobody but you will be able to tell the difference between your beautiful prosthesis and natural teeth!
How Much Do Dental Implants Typically Cost in San Diego?
Because every patient has unique needs that require customized dental implant treatment, dental implant costs can vary considerably.
Implant fees are based on the type and complexity of the work, the initial exam, preliminary treatments, outsourcing, practice overhead, and geographic differences.
We believe everyone deserves to transform their smile with top quality, affordable dental implants.
When shortcuts are taken, the repercussions can be serious, including painful nerve damage, persistent infection, and even implant failure. With the right expertise, impressive credentials, and sophisticated dental implant technology, your smile is in great hands with Dr. Sabourin.
If you’re looking for the best dental implants in San Diego, we’re dedicated to delivering the longest-lasting, life-changing solution to fit your smile and financial needs.
We offer highly competitive prices, accept major dental insurance plans, file insurance claims on your behalf, and partner with the leading third-party financing company CareCredit to make monthly payments more manageable.
Why Choose Dr. Sabourin for Dental Implants?
If you’re looking for the best implant dentist in San Diego, look no further.
After dental school, Dr. Sabourin had the unique privilege of completing an American Dental Association-accredited general practice residency at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center.
Following his residency, Dr. Sabourin was asked to join the staff at the prestigious Scripps Clinic Department of Oral Medicine in La Jolla, and today, his elegant practice is located on one of their medical campuses.
His hospital experience has allowed for enhanced decision-making skills, especially for patients with complex dental issues.
Since starting practice in 1987, Dr. Sabourin has built an impeccable reputation by combining top clinical skills, attention to detail, and advanced technologies with compassion for his patients.
He attends continuing education courses, conferences, and seminars to expand his implantology skills and incorporate new technologies into practice.
When you choose Dr. Sabourin for teeth replacement in San Diego, you’ll enjoy a renewed smile crafted from the finest materials that stands the test of time and exceeds your expectations.
Other Frequently Asked Dental Implant Questions
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
With regular brushing, flossing, and twice-yearly professional cleanings, dental implants are designed to last decades or even a lifetime!
Who Is The Ideal Candidate For Dental Implants? Does Age Matter?
The underlying bone needs to reach skeletal maturity, therefore, dental implants are a potentially viable option for anyone in their mid-20s or older. Even people in their 80s or 90s with bone loss can qualify for dental implants with bone grafting that restores the underlying bone. But older adults have a greater risk of chronic health problems with potentially longer healing times. In short, adults with missing or failing teeth in otherwise good oral health (including no active gum disease) are typically good candidates for dental implants.
Can Dental Implants Fail And What Are The Causes?
Thankfully, the success rate of dental implants is very high and nearly 99% if placed by a skilled implant dentist like Dr. Sabourin. With that said, numerous research studies have shown a significant correlation between smoking/tobacco use and dental implant failure. If you smoke, quitting before the procedure increases the chance of a successful outcome. A condition called peri-implantitis that causes inflammation and infection in the gum tissue surrounding a dental implant can lead to failure, if left untreated.
How Long Do Dental Implants Take To Complete?
The timeline depends on several factors, including if you require preliminary treatments such as extraction and bone grafting. While an uncomplicated extraction can take a month to fully heal, it may take three to 12 months to recover from more extensive bone grafting. A single dental implant usually takes one to two hours to complete, although you’ll need to stay at our office longer if you received dental anesthesia. Healing generally takes three to six months. During recovery, we take impressions and images of your gums, teeth, and implant(s). We send this information to our dental lab partners to fabricate your implant restoration. The abutment is usually connected to the implant a week or two before you return to our office to be fitted for your final restoration.
Will I Be Able To Eat Normally After Dental Implants?
Once dental implants fuse with your jawbone and you receive your crown(s), you’ll be able to resume eating favorite foods you had to avoid when you had missing teeth or traditional dentures.
Why Choose Dental Implants Over Bridges Or Dentures?
Dental implants provide numerous advantages over other tooth replacement options such as traditional bridges and dentures. Bridges require significant modification and placement of crowns on the adjoining teeth that support a false tooth. Furthermore, bone loss continues unchecked under the false tooth. Conventional dentures can be difficult to maintain, shift or fall out when you speak or eat, require messy adhesive, removal at night, and cleaning in a special solution. Dentures often become ill-fitting and painful to wear due to ongoing bone loss and gum irritation, therefore they require frequent relining. After dental implants fuse with your jawbone, they provide permanent stability to restore over 99% of natural biting and chewing power, while preserving your underlying bone and facial aesthetics.
Do I Have To Go Without A Tooth During The Procedure?
If an implant is replacing a molar, you may not need a temporary tooth. If the implant is in your smile zone (a front tooth), we can place a temporary crown over it that you’ll wear while it heals. With All-on-4 full mouth dental implants, you’ll walk out of our office the same day as surgery with temporary prosthetic replacement teeth.
Do Dental Implants Remedy The Side Effects Of Missing Teeth?
This permanent solution for missing teeth prevents bone loss and associated facial changes, as well as shifting of adjacent teeth and bite issues that can lead to jaw pain. Dental implants also reduce the risk of decay and gum disease caused by bacteria accumulating on teeth exposed by empty spaces.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today
In the hands of a highly experienced practitioner like Dr. Sabourin, dental implants will restore your ability to effortlessly eat and speak and deliver the bonus of a beautiful smile and regained confidence.
To learn more about how dental implants can improve your oral health and quality of life, request an appointment or call us at (858) 452-2333.