Galleria Dental Aesthetics | Dental Blog

Northern Virginia, including Arlington and Alexandria

Archive for February, 2011

Why Should I See an LVI Dentist for My Dental Implants?

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Dental implant surgery can be a long and complicated procedure. You do not want just any dentist performing this procedure. In order to ensure the best possible results, you will want to work with an implant dentist with extensive experience performing this complex restorative procedure. Dentists trained at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) undergo extensive, live patient training using the latest technology and techniques. That is why you should see an LVI dentist for your dental implants.

Northern Virginia implant dentist, Dr. Chong Lee has not only trained at LVI, he is a regional director and teaches courses for the institute. Not only does LVI provide continuing education in dental procedures, they provide excellent guidance in practice management as well. An LVI dentist’s office is geared toward making your dental visits as pleasant as possible.

LVI training consists of treating the whole mouth to ensure the finest quality results. LVI dentists will gear their treatment for your overall appearance as well as your total oral health. You will end up with an aesthetically pleasing as well as a highly functional smile.

To find out more about the LVI difference for dental implants and other dental restorations, please contact our experienced implant dentists today to schedule an initial consultation. Galleria Dental Aesthetics serves patients in Arlington, Tysons Corner, Alexandria, Fairfax, and McLean, Virginia.

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What Is the Implant Dentistry Process?

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Dental implants are used to replace one or more missing teeth, including the tooth’s root. The dental implant is made out of biocompatible titanium and is inserted directly into your jawbone, replacing the tooth root. The process for applying your dental implants may vary based on the extent of the treatment needed. For a full understanding of the dental implant process in your specific case, consult with a Northern Virginia implant dentist from Galleria Dental Aesthetics.

During the dental implant process, the tooth root and the tooth itself are replaced by an implant and a dental crown. To replace multiple missing teeth, a dental bridge may be used and placed on a few supporting implant posts. In some cases, where the bone is less than sufficient to support an implant, a bone graft may be performed prior to the implant being placed.

Once the underlying bone structure is assessed and the tooth and root are extracted, the titanium implant is inserted into your jawbone. It will take several months for your jawbone to heal. During this time, your jawbone will fuse with the dental implant, forming a very stable replacement root. This process is called osseointegration.

Once osseointegration is complete, Northern Virginia implant dentist Dr. Joseph Oh will place a titanium post, called an abutment, onto the implant. Specifications for the dental crown are made and sent to the laboratory for fabrication. The shape and color of the tooth are made to match your existing teeth as much as possible. Once your crown is ready, Dr. Oh will attach it to the abutment, completing the procedure.

Please contact our experienced Northern Virginia implant dentists today to schedule an initial consultation. Galleria Dental Aesthetics serves patients in Arlington, Tysons Corner, Alexandria, Fairfax, and McLean, Virginia.

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How Long Does It Take To Get Dental Implants?

Friday, February 11th, 2011

Dental implants are restorations that can replace one or more missing teeth. The extent and duration of the implant procedure will depend largely on the number of teeth that need to be replaced. Tooth extraction may also need to occur prior to the placement of your dental implants, which will require extra healing time before the implants can be inserted. The Arlington, Virginia implant dentists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics will be able to create a custom treatment plan for your unique situation.

The dental implants themselves will take several months to heal and grow into the jawbone, a process called osseointegration. Once osseointegration is complete, you will return to our office to have your abutment and dental crown attached to the dental implant. At this time, the process will be complete and you will have a fully functional replacement tooth and root.

Some factors that may lengthen the time of the dental implant process include:

Treatment for gum disease
Tooth extractions
The number of implants to be used
Condition of the underlying bone structure, which may require a bone graft in order to accommodate your new implant

Please contact our experienced implant dentists today to schedule an initial consultation. Galleria Dental Aesthetics serves patients in Arlington, Tysons Corner, Alexandria, Fairfax, and McLean, Virginia.

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Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Dental implants are one of the most effective options available to replace a missing tooth. The implants are titanium anchors that are secured into the bone of your jaw where your missing tooth used to be. The dental implant replaces the root portion of your tooth and is used to support a dental crown that will serve as your new prosthetic tooth. To find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, visit one of our Mclean, Virginia implant dentists today.

A good candidate for dental implants is a person who is in good overall health and in good dental health. Specifically, you are a good candidate if you meet the following criteria:

You have one or more missing teeth
You have healthy gums with no periodontal disease
You have sufficient bone mass to accept the implant, however, there are options for patients that do not have sufficient bone, such as bone grafting prior to implant placement.

At your initial consultation, McLean implant dentist, Dr. Joseph Oh, will perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether or not dental implants are the ideal solution to replace your missing tooth. In some cases, Dr. Oh may be able to perform a bone graft if you currently do not have sufficient bone structure to accommodate the implant. If Dr. Oh determines that dental implants are not right for you, he may recommend dental bridges as an alternative.

Please contact our experienced implant dentist today to schedule your initial consultation. Galleria Dental Aesthetics serves patients in Arlington, Tysons Corner, Alexandria, Fairfax, and McLean, Virginia.