Dental Implants in Chula Vista

Dental implants are a common solution for missing teeth. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is surgically affixed to the jawbone to provide support for an artificial tooth. The implant is typically made of titanium or zirconia and is covered with a dental crown, helping the implant to appear as a natural tooth.

The process of getting dental implants can take roughly 4 to 9 months or more. While it only takes a couple hours at most for a dentist to surgically attach dental implants (the artificial roots), it can take 3 to 6 months for the implant to fuse with the jawbone and the surgical site to fully heal. Next, you’ll need a crown or other dental restoration placed over the implant, which can take 1 to 2 visits.

Dental implants are considered a long-term or permanent solution. The titanium or zirconia post from the implant usually lasts about 25 years or more, which means most people never need to replace them. However, the crown portion of the implant may need replacement every 10 to 15 years.

Because the dentist uses local anesthesia during the dental implant procedure, you shouldn’t feel pain during your surgery. You may feel pressure during the surgery and some mild pain and discomfort afterward, but this can usually be alleviated with over-the-counter pain medication.

The crown on a dental implant is made to match the color and shape of your natural teeth, so others should not be able to tell it’s an artificial tooth. Also, because the artificial root fuses to your jawbone, the implant is permanently secured in place and functions like a regular tooth—so you don’t need to worry about movement like you would with unsecured dentures.

If you have a lot of missing teeth, you may choose to use dental implants alongside other tooth replacement options like bridges and dentures. You can use implants to replace select teeth that serve as anchors for your bridges or dentures, making these restorations more secure and fixed in place.