707-566-7300 
What options do I have for teeth until my implants heal?
There are many options available to our patients at Sonoma County Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center for patients looking for temporary teeth while their dental implants are healing. Talk with our oral surgeons and team and we will determine which option works best for your needs.
If you are in need of one or a few replacement teeth, our oral surgeons can provide you with options including a temporary removable tooth or a removable bridge. If instead you are missing all your teeth in an upper or lower arch, then we provide you with a temporary denture or modify your current denture so that you can have the function you need until your implants are healed.
Some of our patients want a non-removable option for their teeth while their implants are healing. In those cases, Dr. Jiries Mogannam, Dr. Vicente Chavez and Dr. Christopher Chow can place temporary implants along with your permanent dental implant in Santa Rosa, California. Then you may be able to get your temporary teeth made and placed during the same day.
There are some situations where your temporary or permanent replacement teeth can even be placed on the same day or the day after your implants have been places.
Are there any complications after dental implant surgery?
We understand that pain is a legitimate concern for patients interested in dental implant surgery. Fortunately, most of our patients do not experience significant or extreme amounts of pain post-procedure. We will help you by creating a pain relief plan that includes any necessary antibiotics to assist you in having the easier possible recovery. The antibiotics can become necessary because some patients may develop a post-operative infection.
Another possible complication may include injury to the teeth adjacent to your implant. There is also the possibility that the nerve in your lower that give you sensation in your lower lip and chin may undergo trauma. It may be difficult to place your implants without encroaching on your nerves’ space if you are missing a significant amount of bone in your jaw. Our oral surgeons will do their best to avoid your nerves during your dental implant surgery, but there are occasions where it becomes irritated. When this happens, you may undergo some symptoms, including tingling, numbness or a complete lack of sensation in your lip, chin or tongue. Most of the time these symptoms will go away with time, but there are instances when they can become permanent and even painful. If you experience any of these symptoms after your operation, please notify us as soon as possible so that we can manage your care the best we can.
How long will my dental implants last?
Implants are a long-term dental restoration. Long term studies (greater than 30 years) show that when patients are missing all of their teeth, they have an 80% to 90% success rate with dental implants. When patients are only missing a single or a few of their teeth, dental implants have shown a success rate of up to 95%. This is a higher success rate than implant replacements in other areas of the body such as hips or knees. Dental implants can fail if they don’t heal properly or they loosen over time, if this occurs then you may need them removed. Once the site has healed, and sometimes at the time of the removal, we can place another implant.
When do the replacement teeth get attached to the implant?
Once you have undergone the enough healing to ensure that your implants are firmly fused to your jawbone, we attach your replacement teeth. There is the possibility that your replacement teeth may be able to be placed immediately or soon after you have gotten your implants. We will carefully examine your particular situation to determine when will be the optimal time for you to begin this phase of your treatment. When this happens, we will endeavor to make sure that your temporary replacement teeth are comfortable.
How can I clean my new teeth?
Just like your natural teeth, it is very important that your use a toothbrush, floss and any other recommended cleaning tools to care for your implant-supported restorations. We also recommend that you visit your dentist for regular hygiene and maintenance. There is also wear and tear associated with dentures, other tooth replacements, your implants and their components. This means that they will need to be repaired. This could include clip replacement, relines, screw tightening and other adjustments.
How many doctors will I need to visit?
Our oral surgeons will take care of placing your implants as well as any other surgical procedures that are determined to become necessary. We can also create your teeth with our technology from Nobel Biocare®. You will need to visit your general dentist to help care for and maintain your restorations. Depending on your situation, you may also need to visit other dental specialists.
What is the cost of getting dental implants?
If you are interested in getting dental implants from our oral surgeons, then our team will work to give you an accurate cost of how much the procedure will cost. If different doctors are involved in your treatment, then you may be charged separately for their services. Please get in contact with us at 707-566-7300 to learn more about how you can get dental implants.
