Services / Dental Implants
Dr. Theodore Ionescu plans dental implants in Elk Grove around your bone, your bite, and the timeline you can actually live with.
4.9 stars
600+ patient reviews
Same day visits
Emergency care available
20+ years
Serving Elk Grove families
CareCredit
0% interest options
When a patient loses a tooth, I look at the bone before I look at the space. I am Dr. Theodore Ionescu, and that is how I plan dental implants in Elk Grove. The implant is not a quick patch. It replaces the root, and the crown sits on that root.
Dental implants are one part of what we do, not a product I hand to every patient. For many people they are the most stable way to keep the adjacent teeth untouched. For others I say wait, save the tooth, or choose a bridge because the bone tells me that is the honest answer.
Extraction and implant mapped together so you keep the bone you have.
Dr. Ionescu places and restores, so nobody hands you off mid-treatment.
Numbing that actually lasts, and a team that tells you what is happening.
Insurance estimates, membership pricing, and CareCredit before we begin.
I place a titanium post into the jawbone where the root used to be. Over several weeks bone grows against that post. Then I attach a connector called an abutment, and the final crown fits over it.
A bridge requires me to reshape the healthy teeth on both sides of the space. A denture rests on gum and can move. An implant stays in the bone, so it does not depend on the neighboring teeth the same way. If you are deciding between the two, I walk through dental implants versus bridges with the actual tooth next to it.
Before I talk about a crown, I look at a 3D scan. The scan shows me the height and width of bone in three dimensions. I check the nerve position in the lower jaw and the sinus position up top. That tells me whether an implant can go in without a graft.
I also review your medical history before I recommend surgery. Diabetes, smoking, and certain medications change healing, but they do not automatically rule out treatment. I would rather delay a case than place an implant into bone that cannot support it. If an implant is not the right service for you, I will say so rather than rush into one of the other services we provide. Erin and Alyssa keep the schedule unhurried, and Leticia or Sarah have the room ready before you sit down.
Most patients want to know how long they will be without a tooth. I plan the extraction and the implant together. When a tooth is coming out, I measure the socket and decide if the implant can go in at the same visit or after healing.
If I wait, it is usually to let the socket fill with new bone. The waiting period is measured in weeks, not months for many single tooth cases. During that time you may wear a temporary crown, a small removable stayplate, or a temporary partial so you are not completely without a tooth.
Once the implant is integrated, I place the abutment and take an impression. The final crown comes shortly after. I tell patients the total timeline before we begin, because the lab and the tissue need to cooperate.
A tooth extraction leaves a socket, and the surrounding bone begins to narrow if nothing holds it. That is why I do not extract a tooth and tell you to think about it for six months. Ridge width can disappear before you make a decision.
If the bone is too thin or too short, I place a graft. In the upper back, the sinus floor can drop and leave little room. A sinus lift adds bone underneath the sinus membrane. That extends the timeline, but it is sometimes the only way to place an implant with enough support. Grafting and implant planning follow the same periodontal treatments we use to manage bone loss around teeth.
The plan changes when the remaining teeth are not strong enough to support a fixed bridge. For one tooth, a single implant is the most direct replacement. It leaves the neighboring teeth alone and preserves bone in that spot.
When several teeth are missing, I may use two or more implants to hold a fixed bridge. If the arch is failing, an implant-supported denture or a full arch restoration can give you back function without resting on gum tissue. I am Dr. Ionescu, and I look at the whole mouth before I promise that all remaining teeth should stay. A full mouth reconstruction is the framework I use when the full upper or lower arch needs to be rebuilt.
I would rather talk about cost in numbers than in vague promises. A single implant costs differently than a full arch, and the bone graft, imaging, and final prosthesis all sit on the same statement. Erin works through your insurance benefits before we start, and she checks what is covered and what is not.
If you do not have insurance, our dental savings membership club can reduce the cost of care. CareCredit helps some patients split the total into monthly payments. Our financial information page explains the options, and Erin can walk you through them on the phone or in the office.
Peri-implant disease is the reason some implants fail years later. Plaque and calculus collect around an implant just like they collect around teeth. If the tissue stays inflamed, the bone can shrink away from the post.
I ask implant patients to keep their hygiene visits on the schedule. We clean around the abutment, measure the tissue, and take radiographs when I need to see the bone. Most problems are easier to manage when we catch them before you feel anything.
We look at bone width, height, and nerve position before we quote anything.
You leave knowing the sequence, the weeks involved, and the cost range in writing.
The implant goes in with the site prepared, usually under local anesthetic.
Three to six months of integration, with a provisional so you are never without a tooth.
An abutment and a crown shaded to the teeth around it.
Dr. Theodore Ionescu has practiced in Elk Grove for more than twenty years and works from the office on E Stockton Blvd. He plans and places implants himself, which means the person who quotes the treatment is the person in the room when it happens. You can read more about the office and the team or check financing and insurance before you come in.
How long does a dental implant take from start to finish?
A single tooth can take several weeks to a few months. I often allow the extraction site to heal, then place the implant and wait for bone integration before the final crown. If grafts are involved the timeline extends. I give you a written plan after the 3D scan so you know the exact schedule before we start.
Does getting a dental implant hurt?
Most patients feel pressure, not sharp pain, during the surgery. I use local anesthetic and work slowly. Afterward there may be swelling and soreness for a few days. Most people manage it with cold compresses and over-the-counter medication. I prescribe medication when the case is more involved.
Will I be without teeth while the implant heals?
You usually have a temporary option. A removable stayplate, a temporary crown, or a provisional partial can fill the space. For full arch cases, I plan a temporary prosthesis when possible. The goal is to keep you functional and presentable during the healing phase.
How much do dental implants cost in Elk Grove?
The total depends on how many implants, whether you need grafting, and what final prosthesis you choose. Erin checks your insurance and our dental savings membership club pricing before we schedule surgery. CareCredit can split the remaining amount into monthly payments. I would rather discuss your number than guess.
Do I always need a bone graft before an implant?
No. If the 3D scan shows enough height and width of bone, you may not need a graft. I recommend grafting when the socket is large, the ridge is thin, or the sinus is too close. The decision comes from the scan and the condition of the extraction site.
How do I clean and maintain dental implants?
Brush and floss around the implant every day. I will show you how to clean around the abutment. Keep your hygiene visits on schedule so we can check the gum and bone. An implant can stay healthy for a long time, but it will not forgive neglect.
Call Erin at (916) 685-4662 to schedule a consult with Dr. Theodore Ionescu. We are at 9381 E Stockton Blvd, Suite #100 in Elk Grove, open Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm.
