Irvine patients make the 25 to 30 minute drive up the 405 to Safari Dentistry and Implants because a board-certified periodontist plans and places the dental implant, does any bone grafting, and fits the crown in the same Huntington Beach office. Second opinions on implant plans from Irvine group practices are welcome; bring the plan and the X-rays.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
Most adults with a missing tooth are candidates for a dental implant, including patients in their 70s and 80s and patients who have worn dentures for years. What decides it is bone volume, gum health and general health, and all three are checked at the first visit with a CT scan and a periodontal exam. Thin bone is not a no; it usually means a graft first.
Things that can delay or change the plan: active gum disease (treated first), uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, certain osteoporosis medications, and recent radiation to the jaw. None of these is unusual and the periodontist sees them every week. Irvine patients who were told elsewhere that they are not a candidate are welcome to bring the X-rays for a second opinion.
What replaces the tooth while the implant heals?
A temporary tooth is provided for front teeth so nobody sees a gap; back teeth usually heal without one. The healing period is three to six months, during which the bone fuses to the titanium post. For a full arch, temporary teeth are fixed to the implants the same day.
- Consultation
- CT scan, exam, written plan and fee
- Surgery
- About 1 hour per implant, local anesthetic, sedation optional
- Healing
- 3 to 6 months
- Crown
- 2 short visits
- Lifespan
- 20+ years with normal care and cleanings
Why Irvine patients choose Safari for implants
The Irvine patients who come to Goldenwest and Heil have usually been through a consultation at a large practice where the treatment coordinator quoted the plan and the surgeon was someone they had not met. Here the periodontist is the person in every visit. Several Irvine patients have come for a second opinion and learned that a graft or a sinus lift on the other plan was not needed; a few have learned it was. Either way the answer is written down with the fee.
How much is a dental implant near Irvine?
Implant fees in Orange County vary widely because some offices quote the post alone and add the abutment, crown and grafting later. Safari quotes the whole treatment in writing at the consultation. PPO plans usually contribute toward the crown, Medi-Cal Dental covers implants only in specific medical situations, and monthly payment plans are offered for anything not covered.
What to bring to your first visit from Irvine
- Any recent X-rays or a treatment plan from another office, for a second opinion.
- Your insurance card or Medi-Cal Dental member number; benefits are checked before the scan.
- A list of medications, especially blood thinners and osteoporosis drugs.
- A driver if you would like oral sedation for the surgery visit.
Getting to the office from Irvine
Safari Dentistry and Implants is at 16511 Goldenwest St, Unit 101, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, about 14 miles from Irvine and usually 25 to 30 minutes by car. From Irvine take the 405 north to the Goldenwest St exit, then head south about two and a half miles to Heil Ave. The office is on the corner at 16511 Goldenwest St with free parking. Outside rush hour the trip is 25 to 30 minutes; appointments are between 10 AM and 4 PM, so the drive rarely hits the worst of the 405.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Same-day emergency time is held each open day.
- Parking: free, in the lot at the door, with a level entrance.
- Patients come from: Woodbridge, Northwood, Turtle Rock and University Park near UCI and the Irvine Spectrum and Great Park neighborhoods.