Dental Implants · San Ramon
Dental implants, planned properly
A replacement tooth you stop thinking about. We design and fit the part you see; a surgeon we trust places the post.
Who this is for
- A missing tooth, or one that can’t be saved
- A bridge or partial denture you’ve never been comfortable with
- A denture that moves when you eat
- You’ve been told you need an extraction and want to know what comes next
What an implant actually is
Three parts. A titanium post that takes the place of the root and integrates with your jawbone. An abutment that connects it. And a crown on top — the part you see.
The reason it’s worth the wait is that it stands alone. A bridge needs the healthy teeth either side of the gap to be cut down to support it; an implant doesn’t touch them. And because the post loads the bone the way a root does, the bone underneath stays where it is instead of gradually resorbing.
Who does what
Worth being clear about this up front, because a lot of practices are vague on it. We do not place implants surgically. That part is done by an oral surgeon or periodontist we’ve worked with for years, and we arrange the referral for you.
What we do is everything either side of it: the planning, deciding whether an implant is genuinely the right answer for your case, and then designing and fitting the crown, bridge or denture that goes on top. That restorative work is where the result is won or lost — the fit, the bite, the way it matches the teeth beside it.
You deal with us throughout. We coordinate the surgical appointment rather than handing you a phone number.
The timeline, honestly
From start to final crown is commonly three to six months, sometimes longer if a graft is needed.
Placement is a single appointment with the surgeon, and most patients find it considerably easier than they expected. Then the bone needs time to integrate with the post. That waiting period isn’t caution for its own sake; it’s what makes the result last decades instead of years.
You won’t have a gap in the meantime if it’s a visible tooth. We’ll fit a temporary.
When an implant isn’t the right answer
Sometimes it isn’t. Uncontrolled gum disease has to be resolved first, or the implant will fail the same way a tooth did. Heavy smoking meaningfully reduces success rates and we’ll tell you so directly. Some medical conditions and medications — particularly certain bone medications — change the picture.
And occasionally the honest answer is that a bridge or a partial serves you better for less money. We’ll say that when it’s true.
Questions
Answered before you ask.
Does placing an implant hurt?
The placement appointment is done by the surgeon under local anesthetic and is usually uneventful. Most patients report the days afterward being milder than an extraction. Fitting the crown afterwards, which is the part we do, needs no anesthetic at all in most cases.
How long do implants last?
The post itself often lasts decades and frequently a lifetime. The crown on top is the part that wears — expect to replace that at some point, much like any crown.
Am I too old for an implant?
Age itself isn’t a barrier; we restore implants for patients in their eighties, and the surgeon who places the implant assesses each case. Bone quality and general health matter far more than the number.
What if I’ve been told I don’t have enough bone?
That’s common where a tooth has been missing for years. Grafting can often build the site back up. It adds months to the timeline, and it’s worth knowing that before you start rather than midway through.
In their words
Thirty years of families who stayed.
Every quote below is a patient's own, unedited, from our reviews.
“We LOVE LOVE LOVE Avalon Dental! Dr. B is the best dentist we’ve ever gone to”
Cassondra H. “Dr B. always does a great job and you don’t feel the work getting done”
Marie T. “The staff always make my experiences with them the best and most comfortable”
Rebecca C.