The Advantages of Implant Dentistry
If you ever catch yourself covering your smile, hiding your teeth from others, or are tired of going without a complete set of teeth, it's time to talk about your replacement options. Dental implants are an alternative to dentures that serve as a long-term, healthy treatment for tooth loss.
If you have enough jaw bone to support it, a dental implant can be placed anywhere your smile needs it. The jaw bone may have deteriorated if you have been missing teeth for a while, in which case our oral surgeons can place a bone graft to help regrow bone in that area.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the experts in restorative dental treatments. During residency, oral surgeons gain hands-on experience restoring many types of smiles with advanced technology and techniques. At The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego, Dr. Koshgerian and Dr. Shelton design a custom treatment plan for every patient. With many options to choose from for replacing one or more missing teeth, our board-certified surgeons will help you select the right choice for your smile, health, and financial needs.
Your Options for Tooth Replacement
Restorative dental work can rebuild your confidence in your smile, and certain procedures can benefit your oral health for life. Dentures and dental implants may look similar in some aspects, but offer very different health benefits and patient outcomes. Our team will discuss your options for replacing missing or failing teeth, and together we will design a treatment plan to get you smiling with confidence again. These options may include:
- Single Tooth Replacement. A dental implant consists of a post, abutment, and crown. You can have a dental implant placed anywhere that you need to restore a single missing tooth, both in the front and back of your mouth.
- Implant-Supported Bridge. Dental implants can be placed where multiple teeth are missing beside each other to support a bridge. This protects your healthy teeth from being altered to fit the prosthesis.
- Full-Arch Restoration. By using multiple dental implants to support a fixed complete denture, Dr. Koshgerian and Dr. Shelton can completely restore the look and function of your entire smile.
- Traditional Bridges or Partial Dentures. Removable appliances and false teeth do not integrate with the jaw bone to prevent bone loss. They rely on other teeth for support, often requiring them to be sanded down to fit the bridge or partial.
- No Replacement. If you leave a missing tooth untreated, the jaw bone that area will weaken overtime in. Nearby teeth could shift into the open space, causing misalignment and bite problems.
Prevent Jaw Bone Loss
Implant-based restorative solutions are the only replacement teeth that protect the jaw bone and preserve facial structure. The roots of natural teeth are embedded into the jaw bone. These roots stimulate the jaw during chewing, keeping the bone strong and healthy. When a tooth is missing, there is nothing in its place to stimulate the jaw. Over time, this causes the jaw bone to deteriorate, which can lead to facial sagging, bite problems, and adjacent teeth shifting into the open space.
Traditional bridges and dentures sit on top of the bony ridge and do not integrate with the jaw bone. While these options may be cheaper upfront and restore the appearance of your smile, they do not offer long-term oral health protection and must be replaced about every five years. Dentures that are not fitted properly often slide around in your mouth, causing sores. Removable oral appliances may save you money in the beginning, but can lead to extensive bone repair treatment and oral surgery procedures in the future.
When you choose dental implants to replace missing teeth, you are choosing the healthiest solution that will benefit your oral health for years to come. The implant post fuses to the jaw bone, mimicking the function and health benefits of a natural tooth’s root. The jaw receives the stimulation it needs to remain strong, and you enjoy the long-term benefits of a complete smile.
Find Us in San Diego
We have an office in Coastal San Diego near Pacific Beach and another office in East San Diego near La Mesa, CA. Both of our offices proudly serve the San Diego community and these surrounding areas:
Coastal Office
3737 Moraga Ave, Ste B-216
San Diego, CA 92117
- Oceanside, CA
- Carlsbad, CA
- Escondido, CA
- Encinitas, CA
- Solana Beach, CA
- Del Mar, CA
- Poway, CA
- National City, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
East Office
6386 Alvarado Ct, Ste 110
San Diego, CA 92120
- La Mesa, CA
- El Cajon, CA
- Santee, CA
- National City, CA
- Chula Vista, CA
Types of Anesthesia
The right anesthesia will depend on the complexity of your procedure and your level of anxiety.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Dental Implants or Dentures? and other procedures.
"My name is Allan, and I am from Lemon Grove, and I came to The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth taken out. My overall experience has been awesome. Starting with the staff and the doctors, they care about you, and they really want to make your experience well. The practice was clean, very inviting, and friendly. The doctors here were very thorough and explained everything to me and put my mind at ease. After the procedure, I’m feeling great. The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego sets the bar on their friendliness and professionalism in the industry."
"My name is Igor from La Jolla, and I had a biopsy with Dr. Koshgerian. I think the office is great. From the minute I walked in the door to the minute I left, I just felt a sense of courtesy and efficiency. Dr. Koshgerian is, first, extremely competent. The way he performed the procedure and instructions and things that I got and so forth were excellent. He has a team that respects him and works together with him. And then, as a person, he's just a very nice person and very reassuring, very friendly. The procedure went very well. I had a great experience. For my friends and family in La Jolla and San Diego, I highly recommend The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego."
"Hi, I'm Andrea and I'm from El Cajon. We came to The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego to have my daughter's wisdom teeth extracted. When we walked into the office, the first thing I noticed was how friendly everybody was. They made us feel safe. These doctors are our experts—very gentle, humorous. The procedure was great. The recovery was so much easier than I thought it would be, but the more important thing is the contact that this staff made with us to make sure she was okay. I would definitely recommend The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego to anyone."
"Hello, my name is Angel and I’m from San Diego. I came to The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth removed. My overall experience here was awesome. When I came in for this procedure, I was a little bit nervous, but the doctor makes you feel very comfortable instantly. The doctors and staff do a very good job at letting you know exactly what’s going to happen. The procedure went very well. I feel awesome and very comfortable now that the procedure is done. I’m so glad I got my wisdom teeth removed here. I would definitely recommend The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to anybody."
"Hi, I'm Asante and I'm from San Diego. I came to The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth removed. When I first came here, I had felt very welcomed. I love the decor of the office and the staff was very friendly and made me feel super comfortable. The doctors here are very welcoming, awesome, and amazing at their job. It feels great. I mean, your teeth are such an important aspect of your face, and if you have a beautiful smile, you're beautiful automatically. My experience here was wonderful. I would totally come back for any surgery. I would recommend this practice because I felt very safe, and they made wisdom teeth removal a fun process."
"Hello, my name is Ashlynn, I’m from Clairemont, San Diego, and I came to The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth removed. This practice has a lot of great people, super nice. Everyone made me feel comfortable, and they’re very reassuring. The doctors here are very caring. I do remember getting videos before the procedure about what to expect. Receiving those messages from the practice really improved my experience. I feel one hundred percent better after this procedure and to any of my friends that need their wisdom teeth removed, I would absolutely recommend The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego."
"Hi, I’m Aurora from Santee, California, and I had my wisdom teeth taken out by Dr. Koshgerian. The office here, they’re very nice. I really like it here. The staff here, they’re very friendly. Made me feel extremely comfortable right off the bat, and very helpful too. Dr. Koshgerian—he’s very nice. It’s easy to talk with him. I could be, like, comfortable around him. The surgery went well. It was really fast. I had a great experience, and I highly recommend Dr. Koshgerian."
"Hi, I'm Belinda from Spring Valley. I came to the Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Specialist of San Diego for an extraction and an implant. When I walked through that door, it's upbeat, there's music playing in the background, people are smiling. Dr. Shelton is one of the most wonderful doctors I have ever met in my life. The quality of life has definitely improved. It turned into the most wonderful experience I ever had. I would recommend the singing surgeon, Dr. Shelton, to everybody and anybody. Dr. Shelton, he's fantastic."
"Hi, my name is Andrea. I’m from La Mesa. I came to The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego for help reinforcing my dental implant. My experience here was great. I met with the doctor so that we could talk about everything that was going to happen. That definitely helped with alleviating the fear that I did have. My procedure went really well and I’m feeling really good. Everything’s healed very well. I’m already recommending The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego. Out of five stars, I’m giving them ten!"
How Can We Help?
If you have questions, would like to learn more about a procedure, or wish to schedule an appointment, give us a call. Our board-certified surgeons and attentive team are here to help.