Treatment Planning
Walnut Creek, CA
 Dr. Keith and Dr. Gibbs will meet with you and evaluate your situation, then with their diagnosis, together you will create a treatment plan that will fit your situation, medically, financially, and for the betterment of your oral health.
Dental Surgery Goals
The goal of treatment planning is to "begin with the end in mind". Before you have any surgery or procedure, our team at the Dental Implant Center at Walnut Creek wants you to have a clear understanding of the end result or prosthesis that you want to achieve and then we can plan our way to get you there.
Dental Surgery Planning
Before we begin, we will want to review your medical history, including what medications you are taking, and any other information that can help us more accurately predict the success of your dental procedure. We then will want to discuss with you what clear ideas of how you hope your smile will look, the materials you want, and the support we have and what needs to be added. For instance, we will know if you will have a fixed bridge or a removable denture. We will know if we are going to use porcelain or acrylic. We will know if we need pink porcelain (prosthetic gums) or need bone grafting.
Creating Digital Impressions
Similarly, with dental implants, the goal is to have the surgery "done" before the implant is even placed. How is this possible? By using study models, digital x-rays, surgical guides and 3D imaging of your jawbone, we can visualize the anatomy and ideal position for the dental implant so that your final restoration feels just like your own.
As prosthodontists, we unfortunately see people who have had poorly planned dental treatment. Just because implants can be placed in the jawbone does not always mean that you will end up with a prosthesis that is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing if your treatment was not carefully planned. Our goal is to do it once and do it right!
Evaluations
Part of your treatment planning is evaluating the entire scope of the patient. We want to examine your current dental health, the placement of your teeth and jaws, and the health of your periodontal (gum) tissue. For some patients, there may be prep work that needs to be done before we can even begin the work that the patient is seeking. An evaluation will help us determine the steps that need to be taken and allows us to engage the patient in the process. It is very important that the patient understands where their current dental status is, and where it needs to be.
For more information about creating a treatment plan that is right for you and takes into consideration your medical history, your finances, and your oral health, contact our office in Walnut Creek, CA. Our dentists, Dr. Keith and Dr. Gibbs are here to answer your questions about all of our dental procedures including a variety of dental prostheses, from crowns to bridges, partial dentures and full dentures, to tooth implants, dental veneers, and more. Contact our front office at (925) 266-3550. |
