Fairfax Family Dental Care

Candidates for dental implants are people who have enough bone tissue to support the implants, and will be able to heal properly following the surgery. If you aren't currently a candidate due to certain health issues, there may be some things you can do to improve your candidacy: - Gum Disease Treatment - Bone Graft: to strengthen the area and give your dentists enough bone tissue to work with when placing your dental implants. - Sinus Lift: some people's sinus membranes lay too close to the treatment site so elevating the sinus membranes creates empty space to fill with bone grafting material. - No Nicotine: Nicotine has been proven to hinder the body's healing response by narrowing the blood vessels that provide nutrients and oxygen to injuries. You'll be a better candidate for dental implants if you drop the habit well before your surgery and continue to abstain

While Invisalign works well for many of our patients, this treatment is not for everyone. There are a few important factors that can affect your candidacy: - Degree of Misalignment: Invisalign aligners work best for patients with minor to moderate misalignment. - Commitment: Invisalign only works if you wear the aligners every day as instructed. - Oral Health: Just like traditional orthodontics, Invisalign requires healthy teeth and gums. You will need to be free of tooth decay, gum disease, and other issues or seek preparatory treatment accordingly.

Invisalign aligners can easily correct mild to moderate issues, such as: - Underbites - Crossbites - Overbites - Gapped Teeth - Open Bite - Crowded Teeth

If you experience sudden pain you may have an abscess or infection and need a root canal. You can take over-the-counter pain meds or anti-inflammatories to help mitigate the pain. If your gums are red and swollen, try placing an ice pack on the inflamed area. If the discomfort or symptoms worsen, you should seek professional care as soon as possible.

If a permanent tooth gets knocked out it is possible to reattach the crown to the root as long as you keep the tooth stored and moist until you see the dentist. Rinse the tooth but refrain from scrubbing it. You can attempt to position it back in the socket as long as you avoid touching an exposed root. You can also place the tooth in a glass of milk.

If you crack your tooth rinse your mouth out with warm water and gently bite down on sterile gauze if you notice any bleeding. If you are in pain, you have likely sustained nerve damage in the tooth. Apply an ice pack to help limit discomfort and swelling in the area. Seek emergency dental assistance as soon as possible. A cracked tooth cannot heal on its own without professional treatment.

Sudden dental trauma can cause significant discomfort and damage the appearance of your teeth. You should contact your dental office as quickly as possible if you suffer: - A knocked-out tooth - A chipped tooth - Tooth pain - Swollen gums - A cracked tooth - A dental crown or veneer that fell off.

The recovery process after implant surgery is lengthy. This phase is referred to as osseointegration and can take anywhere between three and six months. The stitches in your gums will dissolve in about 10 days, and pain and swelling should dissipate over the next few weeks.

Surgeons will create incisions in the gums to make flaps, which will fold back to expose the underlying bone. Then, they will create small holes in the bone that will house the implant posts. Once the holes are the proper depth and width, the implants can be placed. This is done with a series of instruments that help to ensure proper placement. Once all implants are secure, a flat healing cap is placed over the end of the screw. This serves to protect the implant from bacteria and infections while you heal. When the healing caps are in place, the gum flaps will be restored and sutured in place.

Implants can either be made of biocompatible titanium or biocompatible ceramic. Over time, these materials naturally fuse with the jawbone, so the implant becomes part of your anatomy. This comes with added benefits of: - Impressive long-term success rates as they are made from sturdy, biocompatible materials - Additional bone support by helping to deliver regenerative signals to your bone, keeping it healthy and strong - Reduced slipping or clicking (as associated with dentures) and allows you to eat and speak without reservation

During your routine examination, your dental hygienist may: - Examine you for oral health conditions such as oral cancer - Perform high-quality x-rays - Remove plaque that might interfere with treatment - Apply sealants and fluoride to protect your teeth - Educate you on proper brushing and flossing habits

There are reserved parking spaces and accessible ramp ways at the building site.

You can schedule an appointment for an emergency or other service at our Fairfax, VA, dental office, contact us online or call us directly. We also want to help as many patients as possible, and are proud to offer completely free initial consultations* for new patients. Our doctors and team want to encourage all patients to be proactive about their oral health. Our free initial consultation* includes a complete exam, along with x-ray imaging from the world's most sophisticated x-ray, the Vatech i3d. This innovative machine provides 3-D imaging, is safe for children, and exposes patients to far less radiation than traditional technology. * X-Rays and other imaging (CBCT-3D) may incur a fee.

There is a designated customer lot along the side of the building.

We accept CareCredit® in order to make your treatments more affordable and goals more achievable. We also work with most insurance companies and we can determine which costs your plan will cover.

We offer a wide variety of services, from dental implants to traditional orthodontics and more discreet options, like Invisalign®. Our compassionate team also offers around-the-clock emergency dental care. Our primary focuses include: - Dentist - Emergency Dentist - Dental Implants - Orthodontics - Invisalign - Dentures - Root Canal - Dental Crowns