Dental Implants

Choosing between a soggy sandwich and skipping lunch altogether shouldn’t be your reality, yet that’s exactly where many of our patients find themselves before discovering dental implants. Dr. Surabhi Gajendragadkar opened Smile Craft Dental Group because she witnessed too many people accepting compromised lives due to missing teeth – avoiding job interviews, declining social invitations, or settling for dentures that feel foreign in their mouths. Her philosophy centers on one simple belief: every person deserves to feel completely themselves when they smile, and dental implants make that possible without the limitations of traditional tooth replacement options.

Understanding Dental Implants

A dental implant is essentially a small screw made from titanium that replaces the root of a missing tooth. Your jawbone naturally accepts this material and grows around it over several months, creating a bond stronger than cement. Once this healing process completes, a connector piece called an abutment attaches to the implant, and finally, a custom-made crown caps the entire structure.

What sets implants apart from other tooth replacements is their three-part design that mimics your natural tooth anatomy. The implant itself acts as the root, the abutment serves as the transition between root and tooth, and the crown functions as your visible tooth surface. This design allows implants to distribute chewing forces directly into your jawbone, just like your original teeth did, which explains why they feel so remarkably similar to what you were born with.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Sleep Quality Improvement

Missing back teeth can shift your jaw position during sleep, contributing to snoring or sleep disruption that affects both you and your partner. Implants restore proper jaw alignment and provide the support your mouth needs during rest. Better sleep means you’ll wake up more refreshed and your partner won’t have to deal with increased snoring from poorly fitting dentures or jaw misalignment.

Reduced Risk of Sinus Problems

When you lose upper back teeth, your sinus cavity can expand into the empty socket space, leading to recurring sinus infections or pressure headaches. Implants prevent this expansion by maintaining the proper boundary between your mouth and sinus cavity. You’ll avoid the chronic stuffiness and facial pain that many people don’t realize stems from missing upper teeth.

Temperature Sensitivity Relief

Exposed areas where teeth are missing often become hypersensitive to hot and cold foods, making simple pleasures like morning coffee or ice cream uncomfortable. Implants cover these sensitive spots and restore normal temperature tolerance in your mouth. You can finally enjoy a hot bowl of soup or cold drink without wincing from unexpected pain.

Improved Medication Effectiveness

Poorly fitting dentures or gaps from missing teeth can interfere with how well you absorb certain medications that dissolve in your mouth. Implants create a stable oral environment that allows sublingual medications to work as intended. This is particularly important for heart medications, pain relievers, or allergy treatments that depend on proper mouth conditions for absorption.

Enhanced Immune System Function

Gaps from missing teeth create pockets where bacteria accumulate and trigger chronic low-level inflammation throughout your body. Implants eliminate these bacterial hideouts and reduce the inflammatory burden on your immune system. Your body can focus its energy on fighting actual threats rather than constantly battling oral bacteria that shouldn’t be there.

Our Dental Implant Treatment Process

Comprehensive Health Assessment

Dr. Surabhi Gajendragadkar examines your medical history, current medications, and overall health status to ensure implant surgery is safe for you. We take 3D scans of your jawbone to measure bone density and identify the exact placement locations for optimal results. This thorough evaluation also includes checking your gums for any infections that need treatment before proceeding with implant placement.

Digital Planning and Design Phase

Using advanced computer software, we create a virtual model of your mouth that shows exactly where each implant will be positioned. This digital blueprint allows us to avoid nerves and blood vessels while ensuring your new teeth will align perfectly with your bite. Dr. Gajendragadkar reviews this plan with you on screen, showing you exactly what to expect from start to finish.

Precise Implant Placement Surgery

The actual implant placement takes place in our sterile surgical suite using specialized drills and guides for pinpoint accuracy. Local anesthesia keeps you completely comfortable while we create small openings in your gums and place the titanium implants into predetermined positions. Most patients are surprised by how quick and straightforward this procedure feels compared to their expectations.

Healing Monitoring and Support

During the crucial integration period, we schedule regular check-ups to ensure your implants are bonding properly with your jawbone tissue. Dr. Gajendragadkar monitors for any signs of complications and adjusts your healing protocol if needed. We provide you with specific instructions for cleaning the surgical sites and managing any minor discomfort during recovery.

Final Restoration Attachment

Once your implants have fully integrated, we take impressions to create your custom crowns that match your natural teeth perfectly. The final appointment involves securing these permanent restorations to your implants and making any necessary bite adjustments. You’ll leave our office with fully functional teeth that look and feel completely natural in your mouth.

Why Choose Us for Dental Implants

Dr. Surabhi Gajendragadkar takes a different approach to dental implants by spending extra time during your initial visit to understand not just your dental needs, but how missing teeth affect your daily routine and personal goals. She recognizes that every patient has unique concerns about the procedure, recovery time, and final results, which is why she tailors her communication style to match what you need to feel informed and comfortable. Rather than rushing through appointments, she ensures you leave each visit with clear answers and realistic expectations about your treatment timeline.

Our practice focuses on creating a calm environment where you can ask questions without feeling hurried or judged about your dental history. We understand that many patients have had negative experiences elsewhere or feel embarrassed about their current situation, so we work to rebuild trust through transparent communication and gentle care. The combination of Dr. Gajendragadkar’s patient-centered approach and our commitment to making dental implants accessible helps patients move forward confidently with their treatment decisions.

Your Smile Deserves Better Than Temporary Fixes!

Your life shouldn’t revolve around worrying about your teeth or avoiding situations that make you self-conscious about your smile. Dental implants offer you the freedom to live authentically without constantly thinking about what you can eat, how you sound when speaking, or whether people notice gaps in your teeth. Dr. Surabhi Gajendragadkar and her team at Smile Craft Dental Group are here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and create a treatment plan that works specifically for your situation – reach out today at (949)916-0568 to start this conversation, and connect with us on social media where we share real patient stories and helpful tips for maintaining your oral health long-term.

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FAQs

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are titanium screws that replace the roots of missing teeth by integrating directly with your jawbone tissue. A custom crown attaches to the top of each implant, creating a complete tooth replacement that functions independently from your other teeth. Unlike bridges or dentures, implants don’t rely on adjacent teeth for support and become a permanent part of your mouth structure.

Do dental implants hurt?

The implant placement itself feels similar to having a tooth extracted, with numbness from local anesthesia preventing any pain during the procedure. Most people describe the recovery as less uncomfortable than they anticipated, with soreness manageable through regular over-the-counter pain relievers for 3-5 days. The discomfort peaks within the first 48 hours and then steadily decreases as your gums heal around the implant site.

Why no dairy after dental implant?

Dairy products can interfere with the blood clotting process that’s essential for proper healing after implant surgery. The proteins in milk, cheese, and yogurt may also encourage bacterial growth around the surgical site during the vulnerable first few days. Avoiding dairy for 48-72 hours helps ensure your body can form stable blood clots and begin the healing process without complications.

Are dental implants safe?

Dental implants have been used successfully for over 50 years with documented success rates above 95% when placed in healthy patients. The titanium material is the same biocompatible metal used in hip and knee replacements, making allergic reactions extremely rare. Complications are typically minor and related to healing issues rather than the implant itself failing or causing harm to your body.

How long does a dental implant take?

A single implant procedure typically takes 60-90 minutes from start to finish, including preparation and post-surgical instructions. The complete treatment process spans 3-6 months because your jawbone needs time to grow around and integrate with the titanium implant before a crown can be attached. Most of this timeframe involves natural healing at home rather than active treatment appointments.