Dental Implants Questions

Northern Virginia, including Arlington and Alexandria

Questions About Implant Dentistry

 

Is this procedure performed in the dental office?

Yes. At Galleria Dental Aesthetics, we have the state-of-the-art technology, highly experienced implant dentists and anesthesia options to perform dental implant procedures in any of our Northern Virginia dental offices.

How long does the dental implant process take?

On average, it takes three to six months for the osseointegration process to properly fuse the titanium screw with the jawbone. The permanent artificial tooth crown cannot be applied to the dental implant until this process is successful. Patients who choose dental implants should be prepared for this procedure to take longer than other tooth replacement options; however, this is a permanent, successful and highly durable solution that produces much better results in the long run.

What if I do not have enough jaw bone for a dental implant?

Some patients do not have sufficient jaw bone in which to place a dental implant, but this does not necessarily mean that dental implants cannot be placed. A bone grafting procedure can create the solid foundation that is needed to support a dental implant and the chewing and biting forces that are exerted on a daily basis.

Bone grafting involves adding bone to the jaw. The new bone can be harvested from a different part of your body, such as your hip, or created synthetically. Not surprisingly, bone grafting can add six to nine months to the dental implant procedure, as it is necessary for the bone to grow and fuse properly before the dental implant can be inserted.

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

Good candidates for dental implants are those who:

• Have healthy teeth and gums
• Have sufficient jawbone
• Are missing one or more teeth
• Practice good oral hygiene

Certain individuals may not be good candidates for dental implants because their personal habits or overall health may impede proper healing including:

• Smokers
• People with chronic systemic diseases
• People with uncontrolled diabetes

An examination by our implant dentists Dr. Lee and Dr. Oh, and Dr. Mortazie, who are graduates of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, can help determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

If you have additional questions about dental implants and live in the Arlington, Alexandria, Tysons Corner, Fairfax, Reston, McLean or Northern Virginia area, please contact the implant dentists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics, located in Tysons Corner, to request an initial implant dentistry consultation.