Dental Implants in San Rafael

At D Street Dental Group in San Rafael, dental implant cost depends on three things: how many teeth you are replacing, whether you need preparatory work like an extraction or bone graft, and the type of restoration that goes on top. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, examines the site with a digital exam and gives you a clear, itemized estimate before anything begins. Members of the D is for Dental plan receive 20% off restorative & major work. Call (415) 453-0744 for a consultation.

Yes. A dental implant is a titanium post that fuses with your jawbone, a process called osseointegration, so it becomes a stable foundation for the crown on top. With good home care and regular checkups at D Street Dental Group, the implant itself is designed to last for many years, and the crown can be replaced if it ever wears. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, checks the implant and the surrounding bone at every routine visit.

Placement is done with local anesthetic, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Most patients tell Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, that it felt easier than the extraction they were dreading. Afterward, expect mild soreness for a few days that responds to the guidance we give you. If anxiety is a concern, D Street Dental Group offers a full comfort menu to help keep the visit calm.

Most healthy adults with one or more missing teeth are candidates for dental implants. At D Street Dental Group in San Rafael, Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, evaluates your bone volume, gum health, and bite with a digital exam before recommending anything. Controlled diabetes, smoking, or past gum disease do not rule you out, they just shape the plan. Even if another office said you lack enough bone, grafting or angled placement may still make an implant possible.

After the implant is placed, the jaw typically heals for several weeks to a few months before the final crown is attached, because the bone needs time to fuse with the post. If you need an extraction or bone graft first, that adds a healing stage before placement. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, maps out your full timeline at the first visit at D Street Dental Group so you know each step and what to expect between them.

Soft, cool foods for the first few days: yogurt, eggs, smoothies without a straw, mashed potatoes, soup that is not hot. Chew on the other side and skip anything crunchy, sticky, or spicy until the site settles. Most patients at D Street Dental Group are back to a normal diet within a week or two, though the implant itself should not carry hard chewing until the final crown is on. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, gives you written eating instructions before you leave the office.

Sometimes, in part. Many PPO plans cover a portion of the crown or the implant, some cover neither, and the plan's annual maximum usually caps what it pays. D Street Dental Group is out of network with all dental PPOs, and we bill your plan directly so you still receive whatever out-of-network benefit it offers. Before treatment, Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, gives you a written estimate that separates what the plan is likely to pay from what you pay. Members of the D is for Dental plan receive 20% off restorative & major work.

For a single missing tooth with healthy neighbors, an implant is usually the better long-term choice because it stands on its own and does not require grinding down the teeth beside it. A bridge is faster and costs less up front, and it can be the right call when the neighboring teeth already need crowns or when bone or health limits rule out surgery. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, walks through both options with your X-rays at D Street Dental Group so the choice fits your mouth and your budget.

Treat it like a natural tooth, with one difference: the gum around an implant needs extra attention. Brush twice a day, clean around the post daily with floss, an interdental brush, or a water flosser, and keep regular checkups at D Street Dental Group so Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, can check the bone level on X-rays. If you grind, wear the night guard we make you, since heavy clenching is one of the main ways an implant gets overloaded. Implants cannot get cavities, but the gum and bone around them can still get infected without daily care.