Dental Implants
Dental Implants San Antonio
John T. Parsi DDS – Fellow of Implantology
Dr. Parsi is one of a select few San Antonio dentists that has earned the title Fellow of Implantology. This is a special recognition rewarded to dentists that have had extensive dental implant training, completed complex dental implant case presentations, participated in the advancement of dental implantology, and have completed stringent exams created by the current leaders of dentistry and dental implants. That aside, Dr. Parsi’s recognition is simply a reflection of dedication that he has for giving his patients exceptional dental work. The smile we get when patients realize they can now chew on both sides of their mouth, smile with confidence, and love the way they look is by far the most rewarding feelings we ever experience – and one that will never get old.
San Antonio Dental Implants and Grafting
Parsi General and Children Dentistry provide a variety of implant and periodontal procedures. Our philosophy is to recommend work that’s absolutely needed, and to provide multiple solutions to reach your ideal goals as well. Advancements in treatments not only provide teeth replacements, but control gum disease and in many cases can reverse the damage it has done. Periodontal procedures such as bone/soft tissue grafting are available to restore lost bone and gum tissue to their original function and cosmetic appearance.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are teeth that look and feel much like your own! Lost teeth should be replaced with an implant as soon as possible to prevent bone loss. In addition to losing precious bone, when a tooth is lost, the load on each remaining tooth is increased because there are now fewer of them. This can lead to a spiral of detrimental effects including other teeth fracturing, TMJ issues, inability to chew properly, and other related issues. To restore oral health, the support lost from the missing tooth needs to be replaced.
Why Should I Get Dental Implants?
To compare chewing efficiency, let’s assume a John has all of his natural teeth and can chew at 100% efficiency. With every lost tooth, the amount of chewing efficiency decreases depends on whether or not the teeth are replaced and how they are replaced. If all teeth are lost, the patient will have a maximum of 20% percent chewing efficiency (even with good-fitting dentures on adequate bony ridges)! Dental Implants can replace chewing function to over 90% efficiency allowing you to enjoy eating and other activities without feeling like you’re missing teeth at all.
Bridge vs Dental Implants
If only one tooth is missing and a bridge is used, the chewing ability will be the same as having an implant. However, bridges require cutting the teeth in front and behind the missing tooth to fit a multiple crown bridge over them. If one or both teeth need crowns anyway, this could be a great tooth replacement solution. If they don’t need crowns, they’re now more susceptible to cavities than if they weren’t crowned and if one crown gets a cavity the whole bridge must be replaced. Moreover, dental bridges allow food to get stuck under them over time since there isn’t bone support where the implant would be. This leads to foul smells if food isn’t removed promptly and increases the chance of getting a cavity under one of the crowns and needing to replace the bridge. Also when bone/gum loss occurs the natural emergence profile (how the tooth looks coming out of the gums) is lost and teeth can look like they’re floating over the gums instead of gracefully emerging from them as with implants. This process can take many years to occur and still can provide excellent results in certain situations such as the back teeth.
With dental implants, the bone and gums are maintained, the missing tooth function is restored, and no other teeth have to be cut to make place for a bridge. Additionally, if we need to replace multiple teeth in the future you will have the substructure to make that transition very smooth. With dental implants, the ability to eat virtually anything and smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and facial contours are preserved.
How Dental Implants Help Preserve Facial Contour and Bone
The dental implants themselves are small biocompatible titanium or ceramic posts that are placed into the area where teeth are missing. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. In addition, implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration and facial collapse, which occurs when teeth are missing. When teeth are lost, the jawbone degenerates. Nature takes away what you do not use! Where implants have been properly placed and maintained, the bone tends to be preserved since it is still being used.
Dental implants are changing the way people live! With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life.
Why Trust Parsi General and Children Dentistry With Your Dental Implants?
Dr. Parsi has extensive training and experience in dental implant surgery. As a Fellow of Implantology, Dr. Parsi has specialized in the restoration and replacement of function, gum tissues and underlying bone. Because of this, he is able to provide the entire process and less expensively than most specialists are, and with equal or better results. Dr. Parsi has been successfully placing implants for over 17 years and through his continuing education and faculty positions at major Universities, is abreast of the most current information on implant dentistry.
Dental Implant Consultation
If, like many others, you feel implant dentistry is the right choice for you, we ask that you undergo an implant consultation which includes a health history, dental history and clinical/films evaluation. We will review and explain your existing conditions as well as risks of delaying or not having treatment at all. Depending on your specific situation and the type of implant chosen, Dr. Parsi will help create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs. Your questions and concerns are important to us and our team will work with you very closely to help make your procedure a success.
How Much do Dental Implants Cost?
We will discuss fees during the implant consult. Every situation is different, though due to the volume of implants we place we are able to provide lower priced implants than most practices. We accept most PPO insurance plans, and coverage for implants is varied. We will be happy to assist you in obtaining any benefits to which you may be entitled and provide any financial assistance we can to help make this amazing service available to you.
Dental Implant Sedation
Dental implants are incredibly stable root substitutes that help support you final restoration (crowns, bridges, denture). Parsi offers multiple sedation options to make your procedure as easy as possible. Dr. Parsi also has completed extensive training in IV sedation, which is the most common, and comfortable form of sedation for implant surgery and surgical extraction. With IV sedation, the entire procedure is completed while you’re safely asleep. Local anesthetics will be used regardless of whether you have sedation, and will ensure the entire implant placement procedure will be pain-free. If you decide to use IV sedation, you will not remember any of the dental implant placement procedure, and wake up with your new dental implants and temporary restoration.
Bone and Gum Augmentation for Implant Placement
Some patients may have been told in the past that they don’t have enough bone for reliable dental implants. Now using advanced technology, sinus augmentation and ridge augmentation can help correct this problem by naturally and predictably developing bone. Since bone quality and quantity greatly affect the outcome of your final dental implant procedure, your initial consult will provide valuable information as to what type of augmentation, if any, you will need to have a highly predictable, beautiful implant final prosthesis. Since most augmentation procedures are paired with excellent sedation and surgical protocol, most patients surprisingly report little to no discomfort during and after the procedure.
How Long Does it Take to Get Dental Implants?
For many of our patients, dental implants can be placed in just one visit. Our advanced bone augmentation procedures allow many of our patients to have the augmentation and surgical placement of dental implants to happen at the same appointment. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. Once placed, dental implants will need to integrate with bone before heavy forces can be applied on the implant. For maxillary (top teeth) implants, we normally must wait 4-6 months for osseointegration (bone integration) since the maxillary bone is less dense and requires more time to heal. Lower implants will be able to integrate faster and can have final restorations within as little as 3 months. During this healing period, you will be provided a temporary esthetic restoration that covers the implant but allows proper stabilization. There are certain instances where the final restoration can be placed immediately, these options will be discusses on an individual bases at your consult appointment.
What Happens After The Implant is Osseointegrated?
After the implant has integrated to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr Parsi designs the final tooth or teeth replacements, which will ultimately improve both function and aesthetics. A simple impression must be taken. This second phase can take as little as 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on final restoration. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily lives during this phase, and are excited to get their final restoration. Again, some patients are candidates for immediate implants, which allows them to have tooth replacements that same day of placement.
If you have questions about dental implants, or want to find out if dental implants are for you, call us or come visit our family and cosmetic dental practice in San Antonio and we’ll gladly answer any questions you might have! Parsi General & Children Dentistry – Proudly offering dental veneers, dental implants, teeth whitening, Invisalign, and comprehensive family dentistry to the San Antonio area since 1998.