Medically reviewed by Dr. Andrew Keith, DDS

Dental Implants in Hillcrest, San Diego

Dental implants planned and placed at our Fourth Avenue office, right in Hillcrest. Every visit stays close to home.

5-Star Rated

IV Sedation Available

Same-Day Consults

A missing tooth is easy to put off. The gap sits toward the back, chewing moves to the other side, and months turn into years. During that time the bone under the space can slowly shrink and the teeth beside it may tip into the opening, which can make replacing it more involved later. An implant fills the space with a new root and tooth, so the rest of your mouth has less reason to change.

Sunrise Dental Arts is on Fourth Avenue in the middle of Hillcrest, and Dr. Andy Keith places and restores implants here for neighbors who live a few blocks away as well as patients from across Uptown. We provide dental implants in San Diego with three-dimensional imaging and computer-guided planning, so you can see the plan before any treatment starts.

Request Appointment

What Happens When a Gap Is Left Alone

Each tooth root presses on the jawbone every time you bite. Once a tooth is gone, that spot stops getting the pressure, and the bone there can thin over the following months and years. Teeth on either side may lean into the space, and the tooth above or below can drift toward it, which changes how your bite meets.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists bone loss, speech changes, and altered chewing among the problems that can follow tooth loss, and notes that an implant can help keep the jawbone from shrinking and nearby teeth stable. The implant post sits in the bone where the root used to be, an abutment rises through the gum, and a custom implant crown completes the tooth.

Signs It May Be Time to Consider an Implant

A Tooth That Cannot Be Saved

When a tooth is cracked below the gumline or too damaged for a filling or crown, removing it may be the healthiest choice. We can plan the implant at the same time as the tooth extraction, and in some cases the post can go in during the same visit.

If the site needs time to heal first, we will tell you why and roughly how long, so the next step never comes as a surprise.

A Gap You Have Lived With for Years

Many people go years without replacing a back tooth because nobody sees the space. Even so, the bone in that spot may have thinned, and nearby teeth may have shifted toward it.

A 3D scan shows how much bone remains. If there is not enough, a graft or a different implant angle may still make treatment possible.

A Bridge That Needs Replacing

A traditional dental bridge relies on the teeth next to the gap for support. When a bridge wears out or one of those anchor teeth develops decay, an implant can let the new tooth stand on its own.

That way the healthy teeth beside the space do not have to carry extra load or be prepared for crowns again.

A Denture That Will Not Stay Put

A lower denture that lifts when you talk, or a partial that rocks when you chew, is a common reason people ask about implants. With implant overdentures, the denture clips onto implants in the jaw and holds steady while you eat.

It still comes out at night for cleaning, and adhesive often becomes unnecessary.

A Front Tooth You Notice in Photos

A missing or failing front tooth affects how you smile and how some words sound. A single implant with a shade-matched crown can fill that space without reshaping the teeth on either side.

While the implant heals, you may wear a temporary tooth so the space is not on display at work or around the neighborhood.

What Recovery Looks Like at Each Stage

The Day of Surgery

Implant placement is done with local anesthetic, and you can add nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation if you would like to be more relaxed. Learn more about our sedation options. If you choose oral or IV sedation, plan for someone to take you home, even if home is only a few blocks away.

The First Few Days

Some swelling and tenderness are common for a few days. Soft foods, cool drinks, and the care instructions we send home with you help the site settle. Many patients are back at a desk job within a few days, though hard exercise should wait until we give you the go-ahead.

The Healing Months

Over the next few months, often three to six, the bone bonds with the implant post. You may wear a temporary tooth during this time. Short check-ins let Dr. Keith confirm the site is healing well, and they are easy to fit in before or after work.

Getting Your Final Tooth

Once the implant is stable, we attach the abutment and your permanent crown, bridge, or denture. We check how your upper and lower teeth meet and adjust the bite until chewing feels even on both sides.

Caring for It Over the Years

Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth, including around the implant, just as you would with a natural tooth. Regular dental cleanings let us check the gums and bone around the post. If an implant ever feels loose or sore, call us so we can take a look.

Implant Care Right Here in Hillcrest

Our office is at 3645 Fourth Avenue, within walking distance for many Hillcrest residents, whether you live near the Hillcrest sign on University Avenue or closer to the north end of Balboa Park. Having your implant dentist this close makes the several short visits of treatment, from the first scan to the final crown, easier to fit into a normal week. For general care and our other services, visit our Hillcrest dentist page.

Our hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with an early 7 a.m. start on Thursdays (we close at 3:30 p.m. that day). Same-day consultations are often available, so if a tooth breaks or starts to ache, call and we will try to see you quickly.

Book an Implant Consultation in Hillcrest

Whether you need one tooth replaced or a whole arch rebuilt, Dr. Andy Keith at Sunrise Dental Arts will review your scans with you, explain what each option involves, and share the estimated cost before you decide.

Request an implant consultation online or call (619) 291-2980. We are in-network with Delta Dental and can bill most other PPO plans out-of-network, and financing through Cherry and CareCredit can spread the cost into monthly payments.

Request Appointment

FAQs

Can I walk to your office from my home in Hillcrest?

Many Hillcrest residents can. Our office is at 3645 Fourth Avenue in the center of the neighborhood. If you plan to have oral or IV sedation for implant surgery, though, arrange for someone to take you home afterward.

Do you offer early appointments for implant follow-ups?

Yes. On Thursdays we open at 7 a.m., which works well for a quick healing check before work. Monday through Wednesday we are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How long do dental implants last?

With good home care and regular checkups, an implant can last many years, and in many cases decades. The crown on top may eventually need replacing because of normal wear, like any crown. Smoking, gum disease, and skipped cleanings can shorten an implant’s life.

Does getting an implant hurt?

The area is numbed before treatment, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain during placement. Soreness afterward is usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers for a few days. If you feel anxious, we offer nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation.

What should I eat after implant surgery?

For the first several days, choose soft foods such as yogurt, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and soft fish, and chew on the other side when you can. Avoid very hot, crunchy, or sticky foods until we let you know the site has healed enough.