a dental implant is sitting in the middle of a row of teeth.

Dental Implants - Carmel Valley, CA

Dental Implants

It’s no understatement to say that dental implants are the biggest breakthrough in dentistry in the past century. Instead of just replacing the part of a tooth that you can see (like every other treatment), implants involve restoring tooth roots as well, using small metal posts placed into the jawbone. These serve as the foundation for the new teeth, creating a prosthetic that is the next best thing to nature. They can support crowns, bridges, and dentures, and thanks to the expertise of the team here at Del Mar Dental Arts, patients can have the entire implant procedure completed under one roof.



A Guide to Dental Implants: Restoring Smiles with Del Mar Dental Arts.

A Permanent Solution to Missing Teeth

Most tooth replacements simply sit on top of the gum line and rely on the remaining teeth for support, but not dental implants. With this state-of-the-art treatment, small titanium posts are placed into the jawbone to mimic tooth roots, and these are what hold a patient’s new teeth in place. Implants are just as strong and durable as natural teeth and can fully recreate their appearance as well, making them the most complete replacement available today. If you’re ready to finally and forever put your tooth loss behind you, give us a call today.

a man and a woman are hugging each other and smiling for the camera.
a woman with red hair and freckles is smiling for the camera.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Because dental implants are held within the jawbone just like natural teeth, they offer a number of benefits you just won’t get with traditional bridges and dentures:

  • Implanted teeth can be trusted to stay in place no matter what a patient is eating, meaning they can enjoy a varied and nutritious diet without their prosthetics shifting or breaking.
  • Topped with custom-made porcelain restorations, dental implants are so realistic looking that only you and Dr. Alhamdi will be able to tell the difference between them and your actual teeth.
  • Jawbone loss often occurs after tooth loss, and right now, dental implants are the only tooth replacement capable of stopping and even reversing this, protecting the foundation of the remaining teeth while filling in any gaps.
  • Implants help maintain the jawbone so it can provide support and structure for the muscles of the face, enabling a patient to enjoy a more youthful appearance as the years go by.
  • With the proper care, implants can be expected to last for decade after decade, with many enduring for the rest of a patient’s life.

Indications for Dental Implants

People with any number of missing teeth can get dental implants, they just need to have a healthy enough mouth and jawbone to support the new roots. After this has been confirmed with an exam, we’ll help a patient choose which type of restoration would best suit their needs:

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a computer generated image of a dental implant in a person 's mouth.

Missing One Tooth

After placing a dental implant between two healthy teeth, it can be attached to a new porcelain crown. Unlike with a regular bridge, implants don’t require the nearby teeth to be altered at all.

a computer generated image of a dental implant bridge in a person's mouth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Bridges and partial dentures held in place using dental implants have a much stronger and longer-lasting hold compared to traditional removable prosthetics. They can be used to close large gaps and even those located throughout a patient’s mouth.

a computer generated image of a bottom set of teeth with dental implants.

Missing All Your Teeth

Rather than replacing each tooth individually, just four to six implants is all that’s needed to anchor a full denture to the jawbone. Implant dentures are smaller and more stable than regular ones, creating a more comfortable and reliable fit that can be trusted to last for many years to come.

a model of a denture with four dental implants in it.

All-on-4/Teeth-in-a-Day

The All-on-4 procedure involves our team placing four special implants into a patient’s jaw and topping them with a new full denture all at the same appointment, fully restoring an entire row of teeth. This approach is commonly used for patients with longstanding tooth loss whose jawbones may be too weak to support regular implants. All-on-4 is designed to maximize a patient’s existing jawbone density to help them recover their smile in record time.

a computer generated image of the human esophagus and throat.

Sinus Lift

For patients wanting to replace their back teeth on their upper jaw, they often don’t have enough bone for an implant to sit in. Located right above this area of the mouth are the sinus cavities, and without adequate bone, the new roots could pierce their sensitive membrane, which we definitely don’t want to happen! With a minor surgical procedure completed in a single appointment, we can gently “lift” this membrane to create more space for a patient’s implants.

Bone Grafting

As touched on above, it’s normal for the jawbone to atrophy in the areas where a tooth has gone missing. Over time, this can make it too weak to support a dental implant. Bone grafting, on the other hand, can be used to build up and strengthen specific parts of the jawbone, using either a patient’s own bone or donated tissue. After this procedure, a patient will be given time to heal, and a few weeks later, their implant(s) can be placed into the newly fortified bone.

a computer generated image of a dental implant in a row of teeth.
an older woman with short gray hair is smiling for the camera.

Start to Finish Convenience

Del Mar Dental Arts is one of the few dental offices in the area that’s able to perform every procedure associated with dental implants under one roof, including the surgical placement. Most other dental offices force their patients to run between different specialists, adding a lot of time, stress, and expense to the process. Here, you’ll be able to get everything you need in the same convenient location, helping you renew your smile in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Factors such as how many teeth a person is missing, where they are located in the mouth, and the condition of their jawbone can all affect the price of someone’s dental implant procedure, meaning the cost of the treatment is always different. We can give you an estimate of what you’ll be expected to pay at a one-on-one consultation. While it’s true that implants tend to cost more upfront than other treatments, they also last many, many times longer, which helps most patients save by comparison because they don’t have to periodically replace their new teeth.

a group of dental implants and crowns on a black surface.
a 3d rendering of a dental implant in a tooth.

Dental Implant FAQs

Even after reading all of the above information on dental implants in Carmel Valley, you might still have some questions about the finer details of the process. Or, maybe you’re just curious to learn more. Either way, we’ve got you covered with these frequently asked questions about dental implants. If you have a question about implants that you don’t see answered here, feel free to contact us and a member of our team will be more than happy to provide you with an answer.

  • Can Smokers Get Dental Implants?

    Yes, but smokers have a higher risk of implant failure than nonsmokers. The success of your dental implants depends on a process called osseointegration, wherein your jawbone grows around your implant until it’s virtually indistinguishable from your natural tooth root. Smoking or chewing tobacco severely hinders this process, meaning it will take significantly longer for you to heal from implant placement and receive your restoration. It also increases the likelihood that osseointegration will be a complete failure, so your implant placement was all for nothing. If you’re looking to quit smoking, your dentist in Carmel Valley has the resources to help you through it.

  • Can Diabetics Get Dental Implants?

    Yes, but like with smoking, there are some risks involved, especially if your diabetes is poorly managed. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can slow down your body’s ability to heal from implant placement surgery. It also puts you at a higher risk for oral infections like gum disease, which can compromise the success of your implant. If you’re diabetic and considering getting dental implants, you should first consult your endocrinologist or primary care doctor about how to achieve optimal control of your blood sugar levels.

  • How Do I Maintain My Dental Implants?

    Taking care of your dental implants is actually not that different from caring for your natural teeth. Simply remember to brush and floss around your implant restoration every day to keep your gums and remaining teeth healthy. And don’t forget to come visit us every six months for your regular checkup and cleaning!

  • Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

    The majority of patients actually report very little discomfort during the procedure. In fact, many of them would prefer it to undergoing a tooth extraction. Because it is an oral surgery, though, you can expect to deal with some degree of swelling and soreness for a few days following your procedure. However, this can be managed by applying a cold compress to your cheek for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. You could also take any prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications as needed.

  • How Long Does It Take for Dental Implants to Heal?

    The duration of your healing process will depend on a few factors, like the current density of your jawbone and the number of implants you’re receiving. If you’re getting All-on-4, for example, we can place your restorations immediately following implant placement, but for other patients, it may require months of healing before we can place your restoration. The best way to determine how long you’ll have to wait is by coming in for a consultation.