Temecula Dental Implants & Oral Surgery

They are either short, narrow, (or both short and narrow) metal posts that are placed into the jaw bone. They are often considered a "cost effective" option, however they are not very clinically effective. Compared to traditional dental implants, mini-implants function very differently. Traditional dental implants truly heal/fuse to the jawbone, in a process called osteointegration. Mini-dental implants do not-they are simply screwed into the jawbone, like a metal screw into a piece of wood. Since they lack osteointegration (fusion to the jawbone), they are therefore very flimsy--whatever can get screwed into the bone can easily get screwed out. Because mini dental implants are short and narrow, they also often break below the gum and often are very difficult to remove. Using a screw/wood analogy--imagine trying to retrieve a screw with a broken head out of a piece of wood. You literally need to core out/trephine out the screw, along with the surrounding bone, which is destructive

1. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause caries (tooth decay) on adjacent teeth. It's nearly impossible for a patient to clean the contact point between the wisdom tooth and the molar tooth, which leads to plaque, food, and bacterial accumulation in the area. This, in turn, leads to caries on the molar tooth, which in turn leads to possible root canal or the molar needing to be extracted. 2. Bone loss/gum disease--Impacted wisdom teeth prevent the jaw bone from properly supporting other teeth. If an impacted wisdom tooth is present, that means that the space occupied by the tooth cannot be occupied by healthy bone. Also, if plaque, bacteria and food get trapped around the impacted wisdom tooth, it causes local inflammation of the gum tissue, which leads to bone loss around otherwise healthy teeth. 3. Problems with normal pattern of tooth eruption--impacted wisdom teeth can prevent other teeth from erupting normally. This is most likely to happen with 2nd molars (12 year molars).

A dental implant is a replacement for the root of the tooth. So when discussing the cost, we need to keep in mind whether we are discussing just the dental implant cost, or the cost for the dental implant, abutment, and crown (the white part of the tooth). The cost for the dental implant only (not including abutment and crown) typically ranges from $1200 to $2500. Dental insurance companies typically cover part or all of the cost, but this varies greatly, depending on the insurance company and particular dental plan.

Oral Surgeons specialize in removal of wisdom teeth. It's a procedure that is very commonly and routinely done by an Oral Surgeon. With experience that Oral Surgeons have in doing the procedure also comes the ability and knowledge to be able to handle any potential complications that arise during or after treatment. Oral Surgeons can also do the procedure under sedation (while the patient is asleep) to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the patient undergoing the procedure. In contrast, a dentist who doesn't do a lot of dental extractions and who cannot provide general anesthesia for the procedure can quickly find himself in trouble if they are not able to remove a tooth. In that case, one can only hope that they have a good working relationship with an Oral Surgeon who can bail the dentist out by finishing the procedure.

The cost varies depending on 3 main factors: 1. Are the teeth erupted (out in the mouth) or impacted (stuck underneath gum tissue and bone). If they are impacted, are they fully or partially impacted? 2. Do you want to be awake or asleep for the procedure--If asleep, that means the cost of anesthesia will be added to the cost of the procedure. 3. Do you have dental insurance or are you paying cash? Dental insurance plans negotiate fees with Oral Surgeons--the fees vary depending on the insurance company and specific plan. If the Oral Surgeon is "in network" with your insurance plan, he is obligated to only charge the contracted fee. Since insurance plan fees vary so much, I can give you a rough estimate that for a typical case of wisdom teeth removal, a patient's copay (out of pocket expense) will vary between zero to $1000, again, depending on the specific insurance plan and the amount of dental benefits used to date. For cash-paying patients, $1000-$2000

Thank you for your question. It is challenging to make a diagnosis without examining you and asking a few more questions. Please feel free to call the office to schedule the consultation and we will do our best to assess you condition and provide guidance. Thank you again. Dr. T