IMPLANT & GUM SURGERY
MEET IMPLANT AND GUM SPECIALIST
DR. JAMIE H. CHUNG
Board Certified Periodontist Serving South Bay Areas
Dr. Jamie H. Chung is one of the premier periodontal and dental minds in the country. She is originally from Seoul, South Korea, and moved to Southern California as a teenager. After graduating from her high school as the valedictorian, she attended Cornell University in New York, where she graduated with a degree in operations research and industrial engineering
After college, Dr. Chung received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of California, San Francisco which is one of the premier dental schools in the world. It was here that she fell in love with the science, biology, and excitement of periodontics. She continued her passion for periodontics at the prestigious Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. It was here that she conducted extensive clinical research in periodontology both at Harvard and the Forsyth Institute. During her years at Harvard, she received vigorous clinical training from the top clinicians and researchers in the world. She also found time to publish multiple scientific studies in a number of dental journals. Furthermore, Dr. Chung has presented her research at various national and international meetings and is viewed as a leader by her peers.
Dr. Chung believes in providing the highest quality dental care to her patients in a welcoming and friendly environment. She emphasizes comprehensive dental care that is tailored to individual patients. This means that she looks at her patients a whole and collaborates with their restorative specialist (General dentist, Prosthodontist, etc.) to ensure that her patients receive only the most optimal care.
WHAT ARE IMPLANTS?
Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers specialized in dental Implant which is an artificial tooth root that places into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth. Dental implants are fixtures of titanium which are surgically screwed into your jaw bone. The implant is an anchor for a naturally-appearing false tooth or a set of false teeth.
Dental Implants have been around for many years and have gained acceptance over time as they have proved a successful method for replacing missing teeth. They are so natural-looking and feeling that the patients often forget they ever lost a tooth.
Dental implants are great for replacing missing teeth. It is important that you have enough bone in the area of the missing teeth for the dental implant to be attached to. Dental implants are not only used to replace one tooth but rather people missing most, if not all, of their teeth benefit greatly as well.
Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers is proud to have a highly-trained specialist to places the tooth implant into a hole made in the jawbone. A post can then be secured to this “artificial root” and can be used to hold one or more prosthetic teeth. Dental implants can also be used in conjunction with a removable denture to create a more secure by locking the denture in place, providing people with the peace of mind that their dentures will not slip when they speak or eat in public.
WHY IMPLANTS?
Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers believe that dental implants have some advantages over removable dentures. Because removable dentures are not permanently fixed in place, they can be easily misplaced and move around when you eat or speak. Additionally, over time the bone that supports the denture may shrink, making it difficult to support a denture comfortably.
Dental implants also have some advantages over fixed bridges, especially when the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth or teeth are healthy. To create a fixed bridge, crowns must be placed on these adjacent teeth which may cause trauma. The dental implant replaces the missing tooth or teeth while leaving all adjacent teeth untouched.
WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Tooth loss is something that no one looks forwards to. If you lose one or more teeth, dental implants may be an answer to replace those missing teeth. As long as you have enough bone in the area of the missing tooth to facilitate the anchorage of the dental implant, you are a good candidate to have a dental implant. If you don’t have enough bone for this procedure, you may still have a dental implant as long as bone grafting is done to the area. Bone grafting is very common with dental implants. A highly trained specialist from Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers will determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure.
If you have a partial denture or dental bridge, dental implants may be an alternative way to give yourself a beautiful smile.
OVERVIEW OF DENTAL IMPLANTS
In Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers, dental implants are placed in your jaw bone surgically. This procedure is very time-consuming when having many dental implants placed. It is very important that you do enough research to find a well-credited specialist since this is a surgical procedure. Pain and discomfort vary on people and will subside in a few days. As with similar types of surgery, bruising and minor swelling can be expected
HOW IS DENTAL IMPLANT ATTACHED IN YOUR MOUTH?
The dental implant procedure performed at Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers is a surgical placement of an implant in your jaw bone which requires three to six months healing time before the dental implant restoration procedure takes place. The duration of the whole dental implant procedure varies from patient to patient and depends, among other things, on the patient”s physical condition and anatomy. It can take three to nine months and sometimes even longer! Yet most of that time is spent on the healing of the tissue and waiting for the growth of new bone in your jaw. During the healing time, the bone grows in and around the titanium implant creating strong support for the restoration. Sometimes, the dental implants can be rejected; this rejection rate is very minimal, only account for 1 to 2% of all dental implant procedures. When this rejection happens, the dental implant will be replaced with another implant slightly larger in size. You may not wear your dentures for one day to two weeks after an implant is placed. When the site of the dental implant is sufficiently healed, a crown is placed on the dental implant to give a very natural look.
When you are missing a tooth, your dentist at Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers may use a Flipper to fill the space. A Flipper is a temporary denture that is used to replace a missing tooth before the permanent crown is placed on the implant.
TYPES OF DENTAL IMPLANT PROCEDURES
Dental implants rely on titanium fixtures and most dental implants are made of titanium since this material is very effective at fusing with living bone which is also known as osseointegration. There are two types of dental implants that your dentist may discuss with you.
ROOT FORM IMPLANT
This is a type of dental implant that is most often performed in Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers. This screw-type implant is the most commonly used and is used where there is plenty of depth and width to your jawbone. If you have too narrow or too short jawbone, bone grafting may be needed to allow for their placement. The procedure starts once you have received anesthesia and the doctor will expose an area of your jawbone to prepare for the implant. After the initial pilot hole has been drilled into the appropriate jaw site, it is slowly widened to allow for placement of the implant screw. Once in place, surrounding gum tissue is secured over the implant and a protective cover screw is placed on top to allow the site to heal and osseointegration to occur. After up to six months of healing, your specialist from Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers will uncover the implant and attach an abutment (which holds the crown or tooth-like replacement) to the implant.
PLATE FROM IMPLANT
If your jawbone is too narrow for bone grafting, a Plate Form implant is placed into your jawbone. This type of implant is relatively long and flat. Plate form implants are used on patients with narrow jaws that may not properly support the wider root form implants. Once the anesthetic is administered, your dentist at Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers uncovers the gum that”s covering the area and gently folds back and the underlying bone is prepared to receive the dental implant. The extent of bone preparation is dependent on the number of implants required. The jaw is treated with a cooling material to maintain its stability during the implant placement. The implant(s) are then installed, and the gum is sutured. The implant should fully integrate into the bone after 3 to 6 months.
Jonathan H. Kim, D.D.S., Inc. – Top Best *8* San Jose Dentists Specialists Centers offer free dental implant consultation. Just look for a coupon on our website and call us to schedule an appointment at (408) 259-2900 or email us at info@drjkim.com or visit our office located in 1725 Berryessa Rd. Ste. B, San Jose, CA 95133.
HEALTHY GUMS
The gums will be coral pink in color.
Gums will hug the teeth tightly.
Gums will not bleed on probing.
Gums pocket all measure to a normal 3mm or less.
No damage to the supporting bone in this stage.
Bone height will be normal.
GINGIVITIS
Mild inflammation of the gums caused by plaque build-up.
Gums may be red and/or sore. Bleed upon probing.
Gums will bleed while brushing or during probing.
Inflamed, sensitive gums
Possible bad breath/taste.
- Bleeding gums when measured, puffy in appearance and pockets no greater than 3mm.
- No damage to the supporting bone in this stage.
EARLY PERIODONTITIS
If left untreated, the gum infection damages the bone and supporting tissues. Your gum separates from the tooth and the bone level deteriorates.
- More pronounced gingival bleeding, swelling
- Gums may begin to pull away from teeth
- Bad breath/taste
- Pocket depth measure slightly more than normal at up to 5mm deep
MODERATE PERIODONTITIS
- Bleeding and swollen gums with pockets that will measure up to 6mm and more.
- Teeth may look longer due to gum recession.
- The recession of bone beginning to appear-moderate bone loss.
- Gum boils or abscesses may develop.
- Bad breath, bad taste.
- Teeth may begin to drift and show spaces.
ADVANCED PERIODONTITIS
Your gums recede farther and separate. Pus may develop, bone loss continues, and your teeth may loosen or fall out.
- Teeth may become mobile or loose.
- Constant bad breath and bad taste.
- Teeth become sensitive to hot and cold temperature changes due to exposed roots.
- Pockets > 6mm deep.
- Some teeth may be extracted (pulled).
- Severe bone loss is evidently visible.
IMPLANTS BY ROBERT H. BRANDES, D.D.S.
Accolades:
Accredited Specialist in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
University of the Pacific School of Dentistry San Francisco, CA
Certificate in Periodontology
University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, TX
Specialty:
Treatment of Periodontal diseases
Gum recession
Cosmetic Periodontics
Implant placement and related procedures
Professional Associations:
Member, American Academy of Periodontology
Member, American Dental Association
Member, California Dental Association
Member, Southern Alameda County Dental Society
Member, International Congress of Oral Implantologists
Member, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
Education:
D.D.S. University of the Pacific School of Dentistry
Certificate in Periodontics University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
Awards and Service:
F. Gene Dixon- Delta Dental Award
American Academy of Periodontology Award
Past President Southern Alameda County Dental Society
Periodontics is the branch of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. Implant Dentistry is the area of oral health concerned with restoring natural form and function to areas where teeth have been lost. I am focused with not only on restoring the mouth to a healthy condition but also on developing a plan to minimize future treatment needs. I have been performing periodontal and dental implant surgeries for over twenty-three years, providing patients with a combination of experience and state of the art treatment. Patient comfort is my highest priority and I have experience in providing many options to assist patients, including sedation. I am a life long Bay Area native and feel very fortunate to practice close to where I grew up. Excellent oral health is an important part of the quality of all of our lives.