Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery Blog

Tooth loss can detract from your daily quality of life because tasks that once were second nature, like eating and speaking, suddenly become much more challenging. Thankfully, your oral surgeon can provide lifelike dental implants to rebuild your smile and boost your confidence. These are the only replacement teeth that are embedded into your jawbone, which provides many unique advantages.

Although these restorations are incredibly resilient, they’re not invincible, and it’s possible for them to fail. However, having enough vitamin D in your system can keep them strong and healthy. Keep reading to learn more about how increasing your levels can support your artificial teeth!

Dental implants boast a remarkable 98% success rate, making them a preferred choice for replacing missing teeth. However, that doesn’t mean that your work is over after having them place. Post-surgery care is crucial to ensure a smooth recovery. Avoiding certain foods can significantly aid the healing process. Read on to learn about foods to avoid, suitable substitutes, and potential side effects of dental implant placement.

No one wants to have a gap in their smile. It can be inconvenient, uncomfortable, and even embarrassing. Understandably, you may be eager to get a dental implant as soon as possible after a tooth extraction. But how long exactly will you have to wait? That depends on a few factors. This blog post discusses potential timelines for tooth replacement following extractions.

Dental implants are successful in more than 95% of cases, so you can be confident that your new teeth will serve you well for many years to come. However, nothing is guaranteed. In rare cases, dental implant failure occurs. How can you avoid that sad outcome? This blog post outlines five practical steps that will reduce the risk that something will go wrong with your restored smile.

A dentist will not recommend that a patient’s tooth be extracted without an excellent reason. While having a troublesome tooth removed can spare a patient from pain and infection, problems can occur if they do not take proper care of the surgical wound afterward. Here’s a brief guide to the painful condition known as dry socket, including why it happens, how you can know if you have it, and how it can be prevented.

Every tooth is invaluable for a healthy, functional smile. Generally, your dentist will do everything they can to ensure each tooth lasts for a lifetime. However, sometimes removing a tooth or two is necessary to save a smile overall. Recommending tooth extraction isn’t a decision your dentist makes lightly. Instead, here are 5 situations when the benefits of removing a tooth outweigh the potential disadvantages. 

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If you’re afraid of going to the dentist, you’re far from alone—it’s estimated that around 36% of people in the US have a fear of dental treatment! But this fear is never something that should prevent you from seeking out the care your smile needs, especially when sedation dentistry might be able to help! However, you might be worried about if you can use your dental insurance policy to cover this specific type of treatment. Here’s what you need to know.

Insurance is a valuable asset, but one of its downsides is that it can be confusing. Dental insurance is no exception. As you are trying to figure out how to utilize your benefits in the best way, you might run into some unfamiliar lingo, such as “deductible.” What exactly is a dental insurance deductible, and how might this feature of your policy affect your out-of-pocket obligation for various services? This blog post provides practical information on those topics.

Medical and dental insurance are designed to keep your mouth and body healthy; however, there are many differences between the two. Your dental insurance works a bit differently than your medical coverage. Don’t worry. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your dental benefits.

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The idea of receiving dental implants can be daunting for many patients—after all, fear of the unknown, misconceptions about the procedure, or anxiety about surgery in general can all contribute to apprehension. However, by understanding how dental implants can positively impact one’s oral health, as well as realizing how dental technology makes the process as smooth as possible, you can acquire the confidence you need to commit to this life-changing treatment. Continue reading below to learn about some of the benefits of dental implants and why you shouldn’t feel afraid to receive them!