Your smile was meant to last a lifetime. But sometimes, teeth don’t remain healthy, no matter how well you keep up with brushing, flossing, and regular check-ups. If you have a missing tooth (or teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can restore your smile and your oral health.

If missing teeth interfere with maintaining a healthy diet, dental implants can also improve your overall health.

A dental implant is made of three parts: The “root,” which is a titanium post that is surgically implanted into the jawbone; the abutment, which provides the structure for the visible tooth prosthetic, and the crown that is placed onto the abutment. An implant tooth is a permanent tooth replacement. Patients who have chosen the convenience and natural feel of permanent implants are extremely satisfied with the results. One or several implants can be used to recreate your natural smile at any age.

If you have been looking for affordable Financial District dental services that include implants, San Francisco Dental Partners can help. Dental implant costs are unique to each patient’s situation. We will discuss your specific treatment plan and costs at your consultation. We also offer plans to make dental implants more achievable.

Mini implants work in the same way as regular dental implants. They can fit into tighter locations when you want to replace smaller teeth, front teeth, or premolars. Mini implants are less invasive and have a shorter healing time than traditional implants, but they are not appropriate for every patient or situation.

As your dentist in the Financial District, we stress the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene after receiving any type of dental implant.

Mini dental implants are used to add stability to full or partial dentures. Implant-supported dentures look and feel more natural because they are artificially fused to the jawbone.

If you have been wearing traditional dentures, implant-supported dentures will boost your self confidence in work and social situations. Because of the profound positive effect they have on our patients, implant-supported dentures are some of the most dramatic and life-changing Financial District dental services that our office provides.

Because the denture rests on the implant and not directly on the gums, implant-supported dentures prevent the sore spots that traditional dentures often create. With this modern dental treatment option, you will never have to worry about loose, shifting dentures or sore gums.

Implant-supported dentures also provide better chewing ability than traditional dentures. Patients can resume eating their favorite foods as if they had a full set of natural teeth.

Needing dentures can affect a person’s self-esteem and cause them to avoid social situations. Implant-supported dentures are comfortable, natural-looking, and will help you feel like yourself again.

Dentures are a natural-looking replacement for teeth that have been removed due to disease or damage. Modern dental technology has vastly improved the fit, feel, and function of dentures. All of our Financial District dental treatments are dedicated to helping you restore and improve your natural teeth, but when teeth do need to be replaced, dentures are often the best choice.

One of two types of dentures may be recommended. Full dentures are best suited for patients who have had all of their natural teeth removed. Partial dentures are an option when only some of the permanent teeth have been removed. Partials are attached to a metal frame and are secured to existing teeth in order to fill in empty spaces.

Both partial and full dentures need proper care. You will also need to continue to care for your oral hygiene even if all of your natural teeth have been removed. Your San Francisco dentist will advise you on the best cleaning methods that you should use to keep your dentures feeling and looking fresh.

A dental bridge is used to bridge the gap between missing teeth. A bridge may be made from gold, porcelain, alloys, or a combination of materials. It is used to hold artificial teeth in place.

Bridges look natural, relieve the strees on your bite, and help to maintain the shape of your face. Because the bridge is attached to other teeth, gums, and bone, it's important to maintain good oral health for the procedure to be successful long-term.

Crowns are typically used on patients with broken or damaged teeth. They are sometimes referred to as a “cap.” A crown is cemented over the damaged tooth and rests above the gum line. We use the latest, highest-performing materials in our practice and our dental crowns are made of durable and aesthetically-pleasing porcelain. The color of the porcelain crown is matched to the same color as the patient’s natural tooth and is very strong.

In some cases, we may recommend a partial crown if you have insufficient tooth structure left to support a full crown.

In keeping with our commitment to applying modern dental treatments and technology, San Francisco Dental Partners uses digital X-rays and iTero scanner tools for the crown-making process.

With iTero, there are no messy impressions to deal with. Your permanent crown will be placed one week after the first appointment. Your crown will be individually sculpted and placed into your mouth, creating a perfect fit that does not disrupt your natural bite or jaw movements.

If broken teeth that have worn down naturally over the years are causing pain when you chew or interfering with your smile, ask our dentist in the Financial District about being fitted with a crown.