3D Printing

In recent years, modern dentistry has sought to incorporate new developing technologies into current treatment options as a means of improving treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction. At Lorton Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, one way we encourage better treatment results is through the use of 3D printing to create personalized surgical guides for dental implant treatments.

Why Use 3D Printing

Proper implant placement is critical to the longevity of dental implants. While it is possible to place implants without surgical guides, the traditional process of implant placement comes with higher risks, including implant failure.

To help ensure successful implant treatment, most experienced oral surgeons will use panoramic and CBCT imaging to create 3D digital models of the dentition and generate computerized surgical guides. However, there are certain drawbacks to this technology. As guides must be physically made in a lab, use of surgical guides can add time to the overall treatment. The cost of surgical guides also increases the cost of overall implant treatment, making it potentially prohibitive to certain patients.

3D printing presents patients with the opportunity to enjoy high quality implant placement without these traditional guide limitations. Similar to traditional surgical guides, 3D printed guides are customized based on advanced imaging and modelling. However, rather than having to wait for a lab to manufacture the final surgical guides, Lorton Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery has in-office 3D printers, allowing our team to generate precise replicas of your jaw in our office quickly and efficiently.

At Lorton Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, our goal is to ensure patients are in full control of their treatment from start to finish. With this precise replica, Dr. Patel is able to walk patients through their treatment and give them a realistic perspective of their prospective results.

To learn more about this treatment option, we encourage dental implant patients to call and schedule their implant consultation with our Lorton oral surgeon today. 

TRIOS Scanner

At Lorton Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, our goal is to provide patients with long-lasting dental solutions. To do so, we frequently incorporate modern technologies into our treatment planning strategies, particularly for patients receiving advanced dental care such as dental implants. One such technology we regularly utilize is the TRIOS scanner, an innovative alternative to traditional impressions known for improving patient experience and treatment results.

TRIOS – Enhancing Patient Experiences

On its own, implant preparation and placement is a lengthy process. Even after the implant has been placed into the jaw, patients must return to have additional scans and impressions taken of their smile in order to create a restoration that fits in perfectly with the rest of the smile. Unfortunately, the process of taking traditional impressions can be less than comfortable. Many patients find the “dental goop” to be difficult to tolerate, leading to incorrect impressions that require patients return in order to achieve an accurate model of the arch. Inaccurate impressions can also lead to inaccurate restorations, compromising the final look of the implant crown or bridge.

TRIOS eliminates many of these difficulties. Using 3D scanning technology, TRIOS takes digital images of each tooth, arch, and occlusion, creating an accurate digital model of the entire dentition. Our oral surgeon can manipulate the digital model through the TRIOS software, creating a precise implant restoration that will fit in naturally with the rest of your smile.

As the scan only takes moments to create a comprehensive and accurate model, TRIOS limits how much time patients spend in the chair. The intraoral camera is small and unobtrusive, making it ideal for patients with small mouths as well as those who have a hard time tolerating traditional impression material. Ultimately, TRIOS allows patients to enjoy an enhanced experience and improved restoration results.

Learn More about TRIOS Today

Our mission is to provide patients with the best care possible at every phase of their oral surgery or dental implant treatment. With TRIOS scanning, our team is able to ensure lasting, natural looking results. Contact our offices in Springfield and Lorton today to schedule your consultation with our oral surgeon. 

What to Look for in an Oral Surgeon

Like any other medical procedure, choosing the right oral surgeon can be a difficult process. Individuals looking for advanced surgical care should ask the following questions when vetting potential oral surgeons for your upcoming treatment.

What is their experience?

When it comes to oral surgery, training and experience are especially important factors to consider. Rather than simply picking out an oral surgeon, look for a dental professional who has extensive experience treating your specific needs. Residency and clinical experience can also be indicative of an oral surgeon’s specialty focus, providing patients with the peace of mind that their experienced professional has experience performing similar procedures.

Is the surgeon a member of any professional associations?

Professional dental societies, associations, and continuing education courses provide critical opportunities for oral surgeons to stay on top of the latest treatment techniques and dental technologies. Some societies, including the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery require members to meet certain thresholds of continuing education hours per year as well as pass intensive certification examinations. With these strict regulations in mind, look for a board certified oral surgeon.

Do they accept referrals?

Not every oral surgeon accepts walk in patients. Many offer their services on a referral basis, working with nearby dentists and other professionals to provide care to patients. As a result, it is worthwhile to check with your general dentist and see whether they have any recommendations.

Do they accept my insurance?

There are a number of factors that determine the cost of care. Between the surgeon’s fees, cost of equipment and anesthesia, as well as pre-treatment diagnostic x-rays or treatments, the expenses of undergoing oral surgery can become expensive very quickly. While dental insurance may cover some of the treatment process, patients may still be responsible for out-of-pocket expenses. Searching for an oral surgeon in network with your insurance plan or one who offers in-office financing options can help alleviate some of the financial stress that comes with planning for oral surgery.

Can the surgeon be reached easily?

Even if the surgery was performed perfectly, accidents and emergencies can still happen during the recovery phase. If your surgeon frequently travels between practices across a large region, it may be more difficult to receive appropriate care when needed. Consider an oral surgeon’s availability before pursuing treatment.

Looking for an Oral Surgeon? Contact our Practice Today

With locations in Springfield and Lorton, our practice offers a wealth of advanced oral surgery options in state-of-the-art settings. To learn more about our treatments, schedule your consultation with our Northern Virginia oral surgeon today. 

When to Visit an Oral Surgeon

There are certain scenarios in which seeking the experience of a specialized dental professional may provide greater long-term results. Some of these scenarios include:

Impacted Tooth Extraction

Unlike simple extraction, in which a damaged tooth is simply removed, the process of extracting an impacted tooth is a more complex process. Depending on the placement and size of the tooth, gum and bone tissue may need to be removed in order to expose the compromised tooth, a procedure oral surgeons are well-trained to perform. Combined with experience, and in-office sedation, patients can remain comfortable and relaxed during treatment.

Jaw Fracture or Damage

In addition to dental school, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are required to undergo additional courses as well as surgical residencies. This extensive training goes beyond what is covered in dental school, allowing oral surgeons to gain an in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy. As a result, oral surgeons are well-equipped to treat jaw damage and trauma. In fact, the American College of Surgeons recommends that an oral and maxillofacial surgeon be present when treating severe and complex facial trauma patients.

Bone Reinforcement Procedures

When completed properly, bone grafting, sinus augmentation, and ridge modification procedures can reinforce the health and function of deteriorating jaw bones, thus, protecting facial structure and improving oral health. Advanced osseous, or bone, surgeries require the unique touch that oral surgeons provide.

Dental Implant Placement

Dental implant success hinges on the strategic placement of implant posts into the jaw bone. The advanced training of oral surgeons provides these dental specialists with the advantage when it comes to successful implant integration and restoration. They know the ins and outs of the jaw, making for a successful dental implant planning and implementation.

Oral Cancer Biopsies

In addition to surgical procedures, patients may also be recommended to an oral surgeon in the event of oral abnormality. This can include instances of benign or malignant tumors of the face or mouth. Beyond conducting tissue biopsies, your oral surgeon may coordinate treatment with an oncologist and your general dentist in the event oral cancer is detected.

Consult our Oral Surgeon Today

At Lorton Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, we work closely with general dentists and other healthcare providers throughout Northern Virginia to provide comprehensive oral and maxillofacial surgeries. For more information about our available services, contact your nearest location today. 

Practice Feature - Dr. Snehal Patel

In Lorton and Springfield, oral surgery is in the experienced hands of Snehal Patel, DDS, MD. He and his team work tirelessly to provide the best care possible to their cities and communities. Through continued education, dedicated years of practice, and community service, Lorton Springfield Dental has become a one-stop shop for anyone’s oral surgery and dental implant needs.

Any success we experience here is due to our customer commitment and high quality treatments. We strive to better ourselves in delivering efficient, precise procedures that put patient comfort first. Gentle treatments and advanced technology equip us to serve. From bone grafting and sinus augmentation to dental implant placement and wisdom teeth extraction, we are prepared to put patients on the path to a beautiful, healthy smile.

A Leader in the Oral Surgery Field and the Community

Dr. Patel gives much of his time serving communities beyond just Lorton and Springfield. He has been to Ecuador and Columbia to participate with Healing the Children, and aided children suffering cleft lips and palates. He completed his dental and physician education at Columbia University, and finished his residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. He maintains a lead in the oral surgery industry with his membership to the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.  

Proof of our commitment is the many awards we have earned. We won the Patient’s Choice Award from 2012-2014, and Dr. Patel has won Compassionate Doctor Recognition and an On-Time Doctor Award (2014). Our care, the best in Lorton and Springfield, helps patients feel relaxed and safe.

Contact Lorton Springfield Dental Today

For care that will repair the jaws and gums and restore the confidence of a long-lasting smile, call us today. We want nothing more than to deliver quality service that treats each patient with genuine care. We look forward to hearing from you!

Tips for Good Jaw Health

Taking care of oral health is more than just good dental care at home. It also including practicing good, consistent hygiene habits and making wise choices daily to protect the longevity of the jaw. Although brushing and flossing is one of the best ways to protect the smile, our oral surgeon in Northern Virginia has some tips that can improve oral health all the way down to the bone.

Good Habits Enforce a Healthy Smile

The jaw is a sensitive machine, and it’s important to practice good habits to reverse the effects of normal wear and tear as well as combat the effects of negative habits. Here are some good habits to follow for improved jaw health:

Eat and Drink Healthy: Drinking water as opposed to sodas, coffee, or alcoholic beverages will leave the mouth cleaner. Sugary and alcoholic beverages encourages bacteria to grow in the teeth and gums. If left alone, this bacteria will decay the teeth and jaw. Eating healthy foods will also contribute to the cleanliness of the teeth and jaws, strengthening the jaw muscles to do exactly what they’re supposed to. Chewing gum is not recommended, as it puts undue stress on the jaw muscles.

Besides eating and drinking, it’s important to protect the jaw from other potential diseases. The chances of developing oral cancer when smoking or chewing tobacco are significantly higher, and cutting down on these habits will reduce inflammation and gum disease in the mouth. Nicotine and alcohol have adverse effects on the mouth, and research has even found that e-cigarettes and vaping aren’t good for the mouth either.

Relax Facial Muscles with Treatment: Many Americans suffer from TMD, where the jaw muscles are tight and do not function properly. This is often due to bruxism, or teeth grinding. This can happen unconsciously at night, or during the day. Bruxing at night wears down teeth, leading to fractures and cracks that can have long-term effects on the smile. The grinding motion also makes the muscles tight from the jaw to the neck.

Treatments for bruxism include oral appliances like night guards, which will protect the teeth from breaking and force the jaws to relax at night time. These are also important for sports and activities where the jaws and teeth can get damaged. Many oral surgeons prescribe the mouth guards and have them custom-fit to each patient’s mouth.

Call Lorton, Springfield Oral Surgeons for Great Jaw Health

Call one of our offices today to receive an examination for your smile. If you are experiencing tight jaw muscles, or your mouth feels uncomfortable, please contact us today. 

When is a Bone Graft Necessary?

Although it sounds intimidating, receiving a bone graft is a simple procedure that has many benefits. Typically, individuals require bone grafts when their jaw isn’t in a condition to receive important oral treatments including dental implant placement, or when your gums need to be restored.

Bone Grafts Solve Oral Health Issues

After having teeth extracted or losing them through an accident, the root structure is no longer in the jaw. The jaw bone, after time, loses strength in the area where the tooth was. Called resorption, this process absorbs turns the tooth-supporting structures into nutrients for the body. If many teeth are missing or have been extracted, the whole jaw may suffer from losing strength. Your jaws may shrink as a result of oral cancer or other diseases. Bone grafting is a necessary procedure for patients to have a healthy smile again.

Shrinking jaws make the face look concave and saggy, and wrinkles form around the mouth area. This adds years to the smile. The bone graft procedures restores strength and bone density to the jaw, preparing it for further treatment.

Bone Grafts Provide a New Foundation for other Treatments

When receiving restorative treatments, or procedures that require strong bone structure, bone grafts are needed. Dental implant placement, for example, requires the bone to be a certain density and width to comfortably and safely complete the procedure. Dental implants won’t fuse with the bone properly without enough bone tissue. Bone grafts encourage new tissue growth and restore the full function of the jaw.

After wisdom teeth or regular teeth are extracted, your oral surgeon may also give patients bone grafts to inspire the bone tissue to grow into the empty space. This will protect the jaw from resorption, and ensure the gums continue to hold their natural line. This is often the first step before dental implants, bridges, or dentures are placed. In the case of wisdom teeth removal, a bone graft will aid in healing for long-term oral health. 

Looking to Restore the Smile? Call your Lorton Oral Surgeon

Bone grafts are a common and easy procedure for oral surgeons like Dr. Snehal Patel. Referrals can fill out the online form, and are welcome to contact us today to schedule treatment consultations.

Oral Surgery to Protect Dental Hygiene

Gum disease, jaw and teeth misalignment, or dental accidents can ruin the functionality of the mouth. At Lorton Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, we want to restore your smile to working order and make sure it is fully functional and in optimal health. Below are some oral procedures that will protect your dentition from bone loss, oral diseases, and misalignment.

Bone Grafting

This procedure has wide applications in aiding the dentition to be healthy. After losing a tooth or teeth, the jaw bone slowly deteriorates, and it can grow too weak to support other treatments like dental implants and bridges. In this procedure, your Lorton oral surgeon will place natural tissue into your jaw to support future tissue regeneration. Diseased or deteriorated bones can have tissue replaced which will protect your everyday oral function. This also prepares tissue for dental implant placement, ensuring long-term restorative success.

Teeth Extraction

Extracting teeth keep the whole mouth safe from infection and alleviate oral pain. As gum disease progresses into its more serious form of periodontitis, bacteria infect the supportive connective tissues that hold teeth in place.  As this support weakens, teeth become loose and often need to be removed in order to thoroughly treat the dentition and protect the health of the smile as a whole. Beyond periodontal disease, other reasons for extraction can include misalignment, dental fracture, and root canal failure.

Extraction is also recommended for patients suffering from impacted wisdom teeth. As most people don’t have enough room in their mouths for wisdom teeth, when teeth emerge their arches cannot accommodate the extra teeth. As a result, the molars become impacted (stuck) within the bone or gum tissue and can cause serious oral health issues.

Ridge and Sinus Augmentation

These are procedures are designed to restore structural integrity to the jaws. The ridge in your mouth refers to the area where teeth come out of the gums. This needs repair after having a tooth extracted, otherwise the jaw may appear uneven and will not be ready for future jaw bone surgeries.

Sinus augmentation is a procedure that improves the structure of the upper jaws. Your oral surgeon will make an incision and place bone grafting tissue to fill the space between the jaw bone and sinus membrane, creating a barrier that can accommodate eventual dental implant placement.

Learn More Today at Lorton Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery

Northern Virginia oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel is dedicated to providing all patients with the advanced oral surgeries needed to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. If you are looking for an oral surgeon in Lorton or Springfield, contact Dr. Patel to schedule your consultation. Our locations in Lorton and Springfield make receiving oral surgery a comfortable, convenient experience. 

Mini Dental Implants

Mini Dental Implants

Traditional implants are used to replace missing spaces in your smile and can be used to support prosthetics such as dentures and bridges. However, in some instances traditional dental implants may not be the most cost-effective treatment options. In cases where bone structure is too weak to support new implant placement, many patients have turned to mini dental implants.

What are Mini Dental Implants?

Similar to traditional implants, mini dental implants (MDIs) use medical grade titanium alloy to support restorations. Uniquely, MDIs use an o-ball shaped head rather than abutments to support the future restoration.

Like their name suggests, mini dental implants are smaller in diameter than traditional implants, making them ideal for placement specifically in vertical bone. Given their smaller size, MDIs are less likely to interfere with other anatomical structures within your mouth.

Why Consider Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are often considered a cost effective alternative to replace missing spaces in your smile. As the placement procedure is less invasive than traditional implants, MDIs often require less healing time. In some cases, healthy patients may be eligible to have their implants placed and covered with a prosthetic tooth in one day, minimizing risk to the patient and the number of visits.  

Other benefits include:

-          Stabilized restorations – for patients who feel as those their dentures are loose or ill fitting, utilizing mini dental implant to secure their prosthetic is a great way to restore functionality to their smile.

-          Support facial structures – like traditional implants, mini dental implants fully integrate with the bone in your jaw and support it, supporting existing structures of your face.

Drawbacks of Mini Dental Implants

While mini dental implants may offer a number of advantages, there are some disadvantages which may make them less than ideal for certain individuals. In particular, patients with severe bone deterioration may find that implants do not provide sufficient support for the eventual restorations. 

Additionally, if the posts are incorrectly placed within the bone, patients may not enjoy optimal recovery success, putting them at risk of developing peri-implantitis as well as overall implant failure. Lastly, lack of clinical experimentation has led many dentists to have reservations concerning the long-term use of mini dental implants in cases where regular dental implants would suffice.

Contact Our Northern Virginia Oral Surgeon Today and Learn More

For more information about dental implants and implant-supported restorations, visit Dr. Snehal Patel and his team today to discuss your implant options. We can help you find a solution that best supports your ongoing tooth replacement needs and helps you enjoy a fully restored smile.

Dental Implant vs. Dental Bridges

Spaces in your smile can seriously impact patients’ self-confidence. To help complete smiles, dental implants and bridges are often recommended options for restoring missing teeth. As each procedure has its own advantages and drawbacks, it is important for patients to be fully informed before choosing the best restoration for their smile.

Dental Implants

Made up of three components, dental implants are considered the ideal solution for replacing missing teeth. During this treatment, titanium implant posts are surgically inserted into jaw bone. Over the course of recovery, these biocompatible components fuse with the rest of the bone tissue to create a solid foundation for the final porcelain restoration. As implants are precisely designed to replicate the shape and function of tooth roots, this alternative treatment prevents jaw bone resorption.

While implants tend to have larger up-front costs than traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants and implant-supported restorations are often considered long-term investments given their longevity. Whereas traditional restorations must be replaced or expanded frequently to maintain functionality, implants are permanent and can prevent additional problems from damaging the smile. Additionally, multiple implants can be used to support larger restorations like bridges and dentures.

Dental Bridges

Often the go-to treatment for tooth loss, dental bridges come in three varieties: the traditional bridges, which use a crown for each tooth on either side of the gap; Cantilever bridges, which are secured to adjacent teeth at one side of the gap; and Maryland bonded bridges or resin bonded, on which plastic teeth and gums secured to a metal frame work is bonded to existing teeth.

While bridges take less time to create and place than dental implants, this traditional restoration is only a temporary solution to tooth loss. As neighboring teeth must be filed or altered to support dental bridges, this procedure can unnecessarily damage otherwise healthy teeth, leaving them vulnerable to infection and accelerating deterioration. With this in mind, many patients with dental bridges find themselves facing frequent retreatment as well as more extensive restoration needs. Over time, these costs can quickly add up, making bridges a more expensive treatment in the long-term.

At our Lorton and Springfield dental practices, Dr. Snehal Patel is here to help you find the right solution for your smile. Whether you’re looking to replace one tooth or an entire arch with implants and implant-supported dentures or bridges, Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery offers comprehensive treatments tailored to your smile. To learn more, contact our nearest location today. 

Insurance and Dental Implants

Seeking proper insurance for your oral surgery needs can be confusing. However, figuring out what is covered, what isn’t, and seeking alternatives is something that can be achieved through proper communication with different health care providers and our oral surgeon. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implant & Oral Surgery, we hope to provide all of your surgical care and offer information for coverage and alternative sources of financing.

In The Case of Dental Implants 
Dental implants are a restorative procedure that allows for one or more teeth to be replaced. However, this effective and long lasting treatment is more expensive than other prosthetics and may not be covered by most traditional dental insurances. If you are interested in dental implants, inquire with our office about a payment plan for the best treatment available to replace teeth, regardless of your insurance coverage.

Although dental implants are more expensive initially, over time they are much more cost-effective than dentures. Over the course of use, removable prosthetics can wear down existing teeth and tissue. Dental implants replace teeth entirely, and when properly placed can integrate into the supportive structures to ensure long lasting restoration.

Dental Insurance: What Is Covered and What Isn’t? 
While most basic preventive and diagnostic care is covered by dental insurance, restorative treatments are often not included as covered services. Depending on your insurance plan’s benefits, fillings, root canals, crowns, and bridges may require a copayment. In some instances, paying for restorative dentistry falls squarely on the patient. There isn’t an all-in-one insurance plan that can cover everything, including implants, but talking to your healthcare provider for options is recommended.

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implant & Oral Surgery, we accept most major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover), and PayPal. However, before you begin implant treatment, ask our front office team about a pre-treatment estimate. This service allows you to know upfront what your dental plan will cost and what you will be responsible for.

Contact Us!
For more information about health care coverage and financing options for all of your oral and maxillofacial surgery needs, contact us at our Lorton, VA or Springfield, VA practices.

Steps Toward Healthy Oral Surgery Recovery

Oral surgery is necessary for the placement of dental implants or even extraction of wisdom or infected teeth. Teeth may be impacted or trapped within the jaw bone, which damages neighboring teeth. Through surgery, however, there is an opportunity to remove and assess these problems.

After surgery, it is normal for the treatment site to be sore or tender for the first few days. However, over-the-counter pain medication, or pain medication that was specifically prescribed for your procedure, can relieve any discomfort you feel.

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implant & Oral Surgery, we ensure the highest level of comfort possible during procedures and provide advice on post-surgery oral care.

Here are suggestions for ensuring a healthy and speedy recovery following your oral surgery:

Rinse Frequently:

Keeping the blood clot in place is critical to ensuring successful recovery following teeth extraction. If the clot becomes dislodged, the bone and nerves are exposed, increasing pain. Exposure also leaves these tissues vulnerable to dry socket. To prevent this post-surgery infection, rinse your mouth as recommended by your oral surgeon and avoid touching the treated area.

Ice Regularly:

Post-treatment swelling can be extremely uncomfortable. To help alleviate some of the pain, be sure to apply ice packs at 15 minute intervals. Elevating the head and neck above the heart can also help reduce discomfort during recovery.

Stay Clean:

While patients should avoid brushing or floss teeth near the surgical area, that doesn’t exempt them from maintaining oral hygiene during the recovery. To ensure treated areas remain clean, remember to rinse gently using lukewarm salt water, especially after meals. When given the all clear by your surgeon to resume a normal hygiene routine, be gentle on your smile.

Watch Your Diet

Hot, crunchy, or hard foods can prolong the healing process, preventing patients from enjoying a speedy recovery. Until your smile heals, be sure to follow a well-balanced diet that is rich in vitamins A and C.

 While these tips are common sense, make sure you follow them ensure optimum recovery time without any complications.Depending on the type of surgery you are recovering from, you may also receive additional instructions. Be sure to follow these directives closely and keep all post-treatment appointments to ensure proper healing. 

If there are any complications after surgery, whether or not they occur because of the above information, contact our office immediately. 

Contact us for more information!

Oral surgeon Snehal Dr. Patel, of Lorton, VA and Springfield, VA, and our medical staff are committed to providing care before, during, and after surgery. If you have any questions about healthy recovery steps after oral surgery, contact Lorton-Springfield Dental Implant & Oral Surgery. 

The Future of Dental Implants

Dentistry is constantly changing; new technologies are being developed, procedures made more efficient, and more treatment options than ever before are now available. Any oral surgeon or dentist is limited in how they can treat adult teeth, especially when teeth must be removed or treated with preliminary care, like root canal therapy. You only have one of that particular tooth, and there’s no replacement.

Natural, Biological Implants
Within the next decades, it is surmised by experts in the field that dental implants will continue to improve and made to be longer-lasting. Eventually, though, the traditional implant procedure will be replaced by something far better. What if you could have your missing teeth back? Oral surgeons and scientists are researching how to re-grow teeth using cells. As adults and children, our teeth have stem cells that can be used to grow brand new teeth or tissues when needed. Instead of undergoing complex dental restorations and prosthetic teeth replacement, one can simply have a tooth grown and placed at the site of a missing tooth, as if you never lost it.

Ethical and Adaptable
In the above method, the stem cells used are all provided by your own body. These procedures are ethical and provide new teeth that are naturally designed to bond with your own tissue; there is little chance your immune system will reject your own cells and tissues.

Beyond replacing teeth, your stem cells could also be used to restore gum tissue that have receded or decayed. Oral procedures such as bone grafts, root planing and scaling, and possibly even common fillings could be dramatically changed with the introduction of stem cells. As of yet, the full range of dental applications have not been explored, but one day dentistry could have very few serious procedures and be focused more on natural, easily integrated treatments.

Oral Procedures at Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery
Even though this future is far-off, our practice is proud to offer the most advanced oral procedures for restoring and replacing teeth. Northern Virgina oral surgeons Drs.Snehal Patel and Jason Bae are experienced oral surgeons who provide top-quality care to all of their patients. From dental implants and wisdom teeth extractions to jaw surgery and sedation dentistry, our experienced staff is prepared to provide state-of-the-art care that is minimally invasive and comprehensive. Call us today to schedule a consultation.

Choosing Between Root Canal Therapy and Dental Implants

When you have a tooth that needs dental work, but you have the choice between a root canal and replacing the damaged tooth with a dental implant, it may be hard to choose. Both procedures improve oral health and include restorations that can be color-matched to blend with your natural smile. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone who needs root canal therapy qualifies for a dental implant and some patients may not be able to save severely damaged teeth with a root canal.
Consider the following features of both procedures.

Root Canal Therapy: A patient needs root canal therapy if their tooth has become infected due to advanced decay. This procedure removes infected tooth pulp and involves capping the tooth with a crown for improved function and aesthetics. There are many options for crown materials and some of them look more natural than others, but most materials in modern dentistry have the potential to last for years with the proper care.

Root canals save as much natural tooth as possible, and are typically conducted by endodontists who are trained to perform root canals and are experienced to eliminate discomfort and reduce chances of re-infection.

Dental Implants: If tooth has been compromised by infection, it’s sometimes necessary to extract the entire tooth and provide a replacement. In these instances, a single-tooth implant is an option. During extraction and implant placement, the whole tooth and root are removed and an implant is placed into your jaw bone. Implants are designed to fuse with the bone in your jaw over time and become a whole replacement for a lost tooth. A dental restoration is placed on top of the implant post and is designed to fit perfectly with surrounding teeth. Modern materials permit a similar aesthetic and strength to natural teeth.

The dental implant itself takes some time to officially fuse to your jaw bone and become as strong as possible. To ensure the health and continued integrity of your implant, follow-up examinations are required.

The benefits of dental implants include:
• Strong, natural looking restoration
• Replaces entire tooth
• Long-lasting
• In the event of damage, only the top prosthetic needs to be swapped out

Contact Lorton Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery 
For your dental implant or root canal therapy needs, please visit our dentists at Lorton- Springfield Dental Implant and Oral Surgery. Call us for a consultation and find out which dental treatment is best for you.

Caring for Dental Implants

One of the greatest advantages of dental implants is the treatment’s longevity. Unlike dentures, partials, or bridges which must be replaced every few years to ensure continued oral function, implants often last a lifetime with the right care. In order to enjoy the full lifespan of this treatment option, there are several steps patients must integrate into their regular hygiene routine. Some of the best steps for caring for your dental implants include:

Brush Twice Daily

Just like natural teeth, dental implants should be brushed twice daily to remove plaque and bacteria from the surface of teeth.

Floss Daily

Patients with dental implants are at an increased risk of developing peri-implantitis, an inflammatory gum condition caused by the accumulation of plaque on the dental implant. Without treatment, this infection can compromise the long-term health of the smile as well as the longevity of the dental implant. Flossing at least once a day can help remove plaque and bacteria trapped between the teeth and prevent the accumulation of tartar at the gum line.

Use a Rubber Pick

In addition to daily brushing and flossing, dental implant patients should also consider adding soft-tipped dental picks into their dental hygiene routine. Used after brushing and flossing, patients run these rubber picks along the gum line, removing plaque that may have been left behind by brushing and flossing and is trapped in the space between the teeth. As this dental instrument is made of rubber, individuals don’t need to worry about scratching the implant or damaging the surrounding tissue.

Thoroughly Clean Prosthetic

Particularly for patients with removable overdentures, cleaning the prosthetic is an important part of maintaining a lasting implant-retained restoration. In addition to cleaning the prosthetic thoroughly with the correct materials, patients should also be careful to clean around the dental implant attachments, as this ensures that trapped food is removed daily and prevents plaque and bacteria from building up below the denture. 

Keep Regular Dental Visits

At-home oral hygiene is only part of the implant care process. In addition to maintaining a diligent hygiene routine at home, patients must also regularly visit their dentist for professional cleanings and check-ups. During these biannual visits, your dentist can ensure your implant is functioning properly and effective improving the overall health, function, and aesthetics of your smile.

In Northern Virginia, Dr. Snehal Patel and his team at Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery are committed to providing patients with restorative solutions that yield lasting results. By working closely with your general dentist, our Northern Virginia oral surgeon is able to ensure that your implant treatment contributes to the long-term wellbeing of your dentition. For more information about caring for your dental implants, as well as your available implant options, contact our Lorton orSpringfield oral surgery practices. 

Hybrid Dentures and Implant-Supported Dentures

When teeth are lost or extracted, replacing them as soon as possible is critical to restoring function and aesthetics to a smile. For individuals missing almost all of the teeth in an arch, finding a comprehensive restoration is especially important. Thanks to the versatility of dental implants, many patients experiencing extensive tooth loss have several options available to them. Hybrid dentures and implant-retained dentures permit individuals to take advantage of the stability and treatment longevity offered by dental implants combined with the same degree of coverage offered by dentures

Implant-retained dentures combine the coverage of traditional dentures with the security of dental implants. Consisting of an acrylic-porcelain overdenture, implant-supported dentures are ideal for patients who are missing all or most of their teeth in an arch. Implant-retained dentures are easily removable, snapping onto and off of specially designed abutments. This allows patients to easily remove their prosthetic for nightly cleaning. Patients with existing dentures or those who have used dentures find implant-retained dentures to be the logical step towards a stabilized bite and ultimately more functional smile.

Hybrid dentures, also known as fixed bridges, are an ideal option for patients who have healthy gums yet require extensive arch replacement. Unlike implant-supported dentures, which encompass the entire arch, hybrid dentures can be customized to cover only the missing teeth, allowing patients to keep any remaining healthy natural teeth. This teeth-only restoration also leaves the palate clear, allowing patients to enjoy their meals.

Which Arch Replacement Is Best for You?
There are a number of factors that go into selecting the best arch replacement for your smile. Starting with the condition of the dentition, patients with existing full or partial dentures benefit from the placement of overdentures. Additionally, overdentures often require fewer implants and therefore less bone density, patients with limited jaw bone strength are excellent candidates for implant-retained dentures.

The location of a patient’s tooth loss plays a significant role in determining which treatment is best for a patient. For individuals missing multiple teeth on the upper arch, hybrid dentures are often recommended as they do not cover the palate, and they maintain the aesthetics of the dentition.

Implant Consultation in Lorton and Springfield
Choosing the right arch restoration can be an overwhelming process with multiple factors to consider. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, Dr. Snehal Patel and his team use advanced technology to help patients understand the condition of the smile and determine the best restorative dental solution.

By offering a wide variety of implant-based treatment options, our Northern Virginia implant dentist is able to help patients regain total dental health, function, and aesthetics. With consultations available at our Lorton and Springfield locations, Dr. Patel welcomes patients from across the Northern Virginia region to visit and learn more about the advantages of dental implants.

Understanding Dental Implant Complications

Like any other surgical procedure, dental implant surgery can be accompanied by a certain number of risks. Being aware of the potential complications prior to undergoing dental implant placement is an important factor in selecting dental implants as your preferred restoration option. Some of the common dental implant complications that face patients include:

Post-Surgery Bleeding and Swelling

Bleeding, swelling, and general discomfort is expected following implant placement. However, if you are experiencing continued bleeding or swelling four or five days after your surgery, contact your oral surgeon for a follow-up appointment as these may be indicative of infection.

Infection

Infection at the implant placement point is among the most common implant complications. Known as peri-implantitis, this form of periodontal disease causes inflammation and swelling around the implantation area. If left untreated, patients may be at risk of bone loss and implant failure, requiring total implant replacement in the future. While the long-term consequences of this condition can be worrisome, ensuring the gums are healthy prior to placement as well as continued gingival maintenance can help eliminate this risk.

Damage to Surrounding Tissue

Successful dental implants do more than replace missing teeth. They interact with surrounding tissue in order to comprehensively restore the dentition to optimal health. As a result, successful placement requires paying close attention to the surrounding tissue in order to strategically introduce the implant into the smile. Adjacent teeth, bone, and blood vessels could be accidentally damaged without precise planning, requiring future treatments in order to address these problems. While extremely rare, accidental nerve damage caused by misplaced implants can lead to pain, numbness or tingling in the teeth, gums, and chin. As a result, the implants may need to be removed or repositioned.

Sinus Problems

Bone density is a key component to dental implant longevity. For patients receiving upper arch implants, the bone must be thick enough to support the prosthetic; otherwise, the implant could breach the sinus cavity. Often, preliminary sinus augmentation surgery and the use of a detailed surgical guide can prevent sinus complications.

Learn More about Dental Implant Options Today

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, we believe that being aware of the potential complications of dental implants is an important part of the implant preparation process. During your consultation with our Northern Virginia oral surgeon, Dr. Snehal Patel, we review every step of the implant process, ensuring you know the ins and outs of every part of the treatment. To minimize the risk of post-treatment infection and promote healthful recovery, our in-depth post-op instructions provide detailed steps for protecting your new smile. Together, Dr. Patel and our patients are able ensure long-term treatment success. 

Dr. Snehal Patel offers: Teeth-in-an-Hour™

There are a number of advantages that accompany dental implants. Many dentists consider dental implants and implant-retained restorations to be the ideal solution in comparison to traditional restorations due to their diverse applications and overall lifespan.

However, achieving a successful implant restoration can take some time. Depending on the condition of the smile and the health of the supportive jaw bone, traditional dental implant treatment time can vary anywhere from three to six months. As a result, some patients may be hesitant to pursue dental implant treatment.

However, thanks to innovations in modern dentistry, certain patients may be able to skip the extensive wait time and receive same-day dental implants. Produced by Nobel Biocare, Teeth-in-an-Hour™ are same-day implant option that allow patients to enjoy the ease of obtaining a completed smile in just one visit to their Northern Virginia oral surgeon.

What are Teeth-in-an-Hour™? 
Teeth-in-an-Hour™ uses high-power 3D imaging to determine bone structure and create a placement plan, in which implants are strategically placed to provide the most benefit to a patient’s dentition. Once the digital surgical guide has been created, the implants are placed using computer guided technology. With Teeth-in-an-Hour™, prostheses can be immediately loaded onto the implants during the placement procedure, allowing patients to leave their appointment with a completed, fully functional smile. Given the precision of the surgical guide, there is often less post-operative discomfort experienced by Teeth-in-an-Hour™ patients.

Who is a Candidate for Teeth-in-an-Hour™?
Like traditional dental implants, candidacy for this procedure is based on a number of factors. In particular, patients considering Teeth-in-an-Hour™ must have a healthy jawbone with sufficient density to support the attachment of the implant. As a result, any preliminary bone reinforcement procedures, such as bone grafting, sinus lift, or ridge modification must be completed prior to the treatment. For these patients, traditional dental implants may be a better option to ensure they receive the best treatment possible.

Dental Implant Options in Lorton and Springfield
At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, our mission is to provide patients with lasting teeth replacement solutions. For individuals considering dental implants as a viable restorative option, Dr. Snehal Patel encourages patients to schedule a consultation. During this appointment, our oral surgeon can evaluate your smile and determine which implant option best serves your needs. With practices located in Lorton and Springfield, Dr. Patel and his team welcome patients throughout Northern Virginia.

What is Osseointegration?

Compared to traditional restorations, dental implants offer a lifelong solution for replacing any number of missing teeth. Valued as a highly versatile restorative option, much of the long-term success associated with dental implants derives from how this treatment interacts with other parts of patients’ smiles.

The Problem with Traditional Restorations
Natural teeth roots serve as stimulation for the jaw bone, ensuring stable dental function. When a tooth is lost, the bone also loses its necessary point of stimulation. While conventional restoration options such as bridges, partials, and dentures may be effective for temporarily treating tooth loss, these prosthetics sit above the gum line and do not interact with the jaw bone. Over time, the lack of jaw bone stimulation caused by general tooth loss and compounded by the restoration can cause bone deterioration. Known as resorption, this subsequent bone loss weakens the overall strength of the dentition and can trigger additional tooth loss.

Creating an Implant Support System
During implant placement, a titanium screw is placed directly into the jaw bone, mimicking the stimulation provided by the natural tooth. As a result, the bone begins to form around the implant, effectively incorporating the substitute root. Known as the process of osseointegration, this naturally-occurring process is directly tied to the success of the implant as a whole for several reasons:

• Prevents Resorption: Dental implants are designed to interact with the bone just like natural teeth do. By using an implant, rather than a bridge to replace a missing tooth, the bone can be comprehensively stimulated, thus preventing resorption and additional tooth loss.
• Stabilizes Future Restorations: Whether you’re receiving a single crown or using several implants to support a full-arch restoration, successful osseointegration prevents the need for total implant replacement in the future. Additionally, osseointegration helps to preserve dental function, allowing patients to enjoy lifelike teeth replacement. 
• Preserve Facial Structure: Bone resorption can also trigger changes in facial structure, leading to the premature aging and facial collapse. By stimulating osseointegration with dental implants, patients are able to preserve facial aesthetics. 

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, our team is dedicated to helping patients achieve and maintain their smiles through dental implants and implant-supported dentures. For more information about this service, contact our Northern Virginia oral surgeon today.

Preventive Dental Care: Jaw Health

While often overlooked, the jaw is a critical part of the smile. From supporting the teeth to facilitating all oral function, the upper and lower jaw play an important role in maintaining a smile’s health and function. If compromised, patients can quickly find their standard of life diminished and may require extensive treatments in order to restore health and strength to the bone. With this in mind, being aware of the conditions that can compromise the health of your jaw and knowing how to protect bone health from the future bone issues can ensure uninterrupted oral function.

Common Dental-Related Causes of Jaw Bone Deterioration:

Periodontal Disease: If left untreated, the bacteria that cause gum disease are able to travel below the gum line and begin attacking the underlying jaw bone structure. As bone strength weakens, the stability of the dentition also becomes diminished, leading to potential tooth loss.

To reinforce the strength of the bone, patients may require bone grafting. During this oral surgery procedure, donor bone tissue is added to the weakened area. Over the course of recovery, this donor tissue begins to integrate with the natural bone, resulting in strengthened bone and improved dental stability.

Non-Implant Restorations: Similar to how bone loss can cause tooth loss, tooth loss can trigger bone deterioration. Teeth roots act like anchors for the bone, providing growth stimulation for the bone. Once a tooth is loss, the bone surrounding the lost tooth begins to deteriorate as a result of the loss of stimulation. This process of resorption is particularly common for patients with tradition, non-implant restorations such as bridges, partials, and full dentures.

To help prevent these issues from compromising jaw health and strength, consider opting for permanent dental implants or implant-supported restorations. In Lorton and Springfield, Dr. Snehal Patel and his team offer comprehensive implant options and work closely with patients to develop the right implant solution for their smile.

Misalignment: In addition to impacting the ability to bite properly, tooth misalignment can have a domino-like impact on the jaw, leading to bruxism and accelerated teeth damage. In cases of severe malocclusion, misalignment can trigger problems for the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. If left unaddressed, patients can find themselves suffering from serious difficulties in performing basic oral functions, such as chewing, swallowing, and breathing.

Treating misalignment is a multi-faceted process that can include orthodontics, retainers, and surgical processes in order to correct the position of teeth and jaw. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & OralSurgery, our team works closely with local dental specialists to develop a comprehensive treatment solution for patients suffering from malocclusion.

Teeth Abscesses: Abscesses are the consequence of untreated tooth infections. Caused when bacteria enter the inner pulp chamber, failure to treat this condition provide bacteria with the opportunity to travel to the base of the root and begin creating a cyst in the jaw bone. As the abscess grows, the bone is further damaged. Treatment for this condition requires that the cyst be removed and the bone be sterilized, with any infected tissue removed. To reinforce the bone following treatment, available treatments include bone grafting and ridge modification or augmentation.

Protect Your Jaw Health Today

A healthy jaw bone is the foundation of a healthy smile. At our Lorton and Springfield specialty oral surgery practices, Dr. Patel can help you maintain a healthy smile through specialized bone treatments. Contact our team today.

5 Factors to Consider When Looking For an Implant Dentist

Receiving dental implants is a multi-step process. Given the longevity and expense of the treatment, there are a number of factors to consider before undergoing treatment. In particular, researching implant dentists and finding the best dental professional to perform your procedure is a critical part of preparing for this treatment. Consider the following factors when looking for your implant dentist.

What is the Dentist’s Training?
Placing the implant and loading the restoration requires special training beyond general dental education. Additionally, depending on the condition of the smile, certain patients may require preliminary procedures to prepare the tissue and jaw bone for implant placement. As a result, not all general dentists may have the tools or training required to successfully place or load dental implants. On the other hand, oral surgeons and periodontists are well versed in the anatomy of the jaw and have undergone extensive training in implant placement, restoration loading, and jaw bone treatments.

Is a Referral Necessary?
Some implant dentists welcome patients without a referral. Others work in partnership with a group of fellow dental professionals to provide advanced implant and surgical services for their patients. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, we accept referrals as well as independent appointments.

What are My Payment Options?
Knowing how to pay for upcoming dental implants is just as important as knowing where you’ll be receiving your dental implants. While dental implants offer patients a permanent restoration option, the initial placement and restoration is often more expensive than traditional dentures or bridges. As dental insurance may not fully cover this treatment, determining your payment options is especially important. While some practices may recommend third party financing, others are willing to work with patients to create a monthly payment plan.

What are the Available Treatments?
Each patients’ implant treatment is unique according to their oral health and functional needs. As a result, while some patients may require bone grafting or full arch implants, others may be looking for full mouth restoration options. With this in mind, search for an implant dentist who has helped restore smiles similar to yours and who offers the preliminary treatments your smile needs. Not only does this ensure consistent care, but it can also help drive down the overall cost of care.

What are the Sedation Options?
Patient comfort during treatment makes up an important part of their overall treatment experience. While implant placement is an outpatient procedure and local anesthetic is used to numb the area, some patient prefer to enhance their procedure with dental sedation. For improved patient comfort during implant placement as well as preliminary surgical procedures, Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery offers a wide range of sedation options, ranging from intravenous sedation to full general anesthesia.

The process of searching for an implant dentist can be lengthy and requires doing your research. If you have questions or concerns about the implant process, contact Dr. Snehal Patel of Lorton Springfield Dental Implant & Oral Surgery. We welcome patients from throughout Northern Virginia and the metro Washington D.C. region.

Which is Best for My Smile? Hybrid Dentures vs. Implant-Supported Dentures

Missing multiple teeth or an entire arch can have a number of lasting health, cosmetic, and functional consequences. While dentures and partials offer a temporary solution for replacing multiple missing teeth, the long-term consequences of these treatments often do more harm than good to a smile. As a result, dental implant-supported restorations have become the ideal solution for improving overall dental health.

Versatile, life-like, and permanent, dental implants can be used to support a range of full arch restorations. For patients seeking to replace entire arches of teeth, both hybrid dentures and implant-supported dentures offer an ideal solution. While similar, there are unique differences between these treatments, making each ideal for different patients.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant-supported dentures consist of a full denture supported by a series of strategically placed dental implants. While commonly worn on the bottom arch, implant-supported dentures can also be used to stabilize dentures on the upper arch.

Implant-supported dentures are often a more effective method for patients missing the majority of their teeth in an arch, than traditional restorations. As this treatment relies on implants to support the overdenture, patients do not risk bone resorption or deterioration that often comes with traditional non-implant restorations, thus eliminating the need for extensive jaw restoration in the future. For patients with existing dentures, adaptations can be made to the prosthetic for simple treatment transition.

Fixed Hybrid Dentures

Unlike implant-supported dentures, hybrid dentures are fixed restorations supported by four to six implants. Whereas implant-supported dentures consist of a complete denture, including acrylic gum replacement, hybrid dentures consist of prosthetic teeth only.

The shape of hybrid dentures provides patients with a number of advantages. As this restoration does not include acrylic gum tissue, hybrid dentures do not look or feel bulky. With hybrid dentures, the palate is left unobstructed, allowing patients to enjoy their food. As the replacement teeth are fixed to implants, patients do not have to worry about bits of food becoming trapped between the gums and prosthetic and are able to bite and chew with the stability of natural teeth.

Restore Your Smile Today

With offices conveniently located in Lorton and Springfield, Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery makes it easy to regain confidence in your smile following multiple tooth loss. At our state-of-the-art oral surgery practice in Northern Virginia, our team will help you determine which implant-supported restoration will most efficiently address your dental health and function needs. For more information about implant options available at our practice, contact our oral surgery team today.

Dental Care Post-Radiation

If you suffer from oral cancer or have recently gone into remission, odds are that you have been through some kind of radiation treatment. Though radiation treatment is not used for all types or stages of oral cancer, it is a commonly prescribed treatment that is often successful.

Unfortunately, radiation therapy can exacerbate any health conditions of your jaw, teeth, and tissue. It can also lead to a number of other problems such as inflammation of mucous membranes, infection, permanent dry mouth, cavities, consistent toothache, increased potential for tooth decay, and weakening of the jawbone. Radiation can also make it more difficult for you to taste, swallow, eat, or speak.

Throughout your oral cancer treatment, our Northern VA oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel works closely with your healthcare team and general dentist to ensure your oral health is protected throughout the process. Prior to undergoing radiation therapy, we determine whether advanced procedures will be needed in order to prepare the smile for post-radiation treatments. Impressions of your smile will also be taken to create your future restoration once treatment is complete.

Post-Cancer Restoration Options

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, implant supported restorations and jaw reinforcement treatments are just a few of the services we offer for improving your smile following radiation therapy.

Dental implants are excellent options for those seeking an alternative to dentures following cancer therapy. Implants are secured to the jaw bone to stabilize prosthetic teeth, providing patients with lifelike replacement teeth. As prosthetics of varying sizes can be secured to dental implants, this treatment is a versatile option for patients with diverse tooth replacement needs.

Jaw reinforcement treatments, such as bone grafting and ridge modification, may also be necessary. Bone grafting is a surgical procedure in which donated bone is attached (grafted) to the missing area, thus reinforcing the strength of the jaw. Similarly, ridge modification corrects bone abnormalities by filling deficient or uneven sections of the jaw with a bone-like substance. Both treatments are critical to restoring health to the jaw bone and are often included as part of the dental implant process for patients recovering from oral cancer.

Restoring Your Smile in Lorton and Springfield

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, our mission is to provide patients with lasting dental solutions that enhance their quality of life following oral cancer. For more information about restoring your smile following radiation therapy, contact Dr. Patel and his team today. 

Treating Oral Cancer

Affecting countless individuals annually, oral cancer refers to any kind of cell mutation or persistent growth in the mouth, including the roof, floor, sinuses, throat, and tongue. When it comes to treating oral cancer, early detection is particularly crucial. Through proactive screenings and biopsies conducted throughout the year, dentists can identify potential oral cancer warning signs early, which improves a patient’s chances of successful treatment and remission.

How is Oral Cancer Diagnosed?

Dentists are the first line of defense against oral cancer, as their specialized training in the health of the whole mouth can make it easier for them to spot symptoms of the disease. The screening process begins with a thorough exam of the mouth, nasopharynx, and larynx. The appearance of the tissue will also be examined for any lumps, sores, or discolorations that may be indicative of malignant growths. Finally, in-depth diagnostic images will be taken in order to monitor changes and identify any unusual growths.

If any suspicious lumps are uncovered, a biopsy will be performed and sent for analysis. After a diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan will be developed jointly by a team of medical and dental professions. Together, your oral surgeons, radiation oncologists, chemotherapy oncologists, dentists, nutritionists, and restoration dentists will create a treatment plan specific to your health needs and your specific cancer. Generally, this will include a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, which treatment or combination you receive is determined by how far your particular cancer has progressed.

How Do Oral Cancer Treatments Affect Dental Health?

Because radiation and other oral cancer treatments can negatively impact other dental health concerns, it is important that any potential oral conditions be addressed prior to undergoing radiation therapy. Your long-term remission plan often includes treatments for dental problems such as periodontal disease, caries, cavities, and decaying teeth. Tackling these issues prior to chemotherapy can reduce the chances of developing osteonecrosis, or damage of the jaw bone. Such jaw damage can make treating dental conditions difficult after you’ve completed cancer treatment.

Restoring Your Smile after Oral Cancer

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, we want to ensure your cancer treatment is as successful as possible and that your post-treatment dental health is of the best possible quality. Our oral surgeon offers a wide range of pre- and post-radiation treatments and have extensive experience partnering with other team members as a qualified and dedicated member of your cancer care team.

We offer prior-to-treatment tooth extraction, which can minimize complications brought on by unhealthy teeth. For certain cancers, oral surgery is recommended to remove the mass. We offer this service, as well as bone grafting to restore jaw bones to a healthy status. After treatment, we provide dental implants and implant supported restorations that can bring back your beautiful smile and enable you to eat and speak without pain. To learn more about these pre- and post- radiation dental treatments, contact your nearest location today.

Understanding Oral Cancer

Like other types of cancer, oral cancer occurs when cells in your mouth mutate or change, resulting in a growth that doesn’t go away. Oral cancer can affect any part of the mouth, including the lips, tongue, cheeks, roof, floor, sinuses, or throat, but it is most often found on the tongue or mouth floor. Chewing tobacco users are more susceptible to oral cancer that occurs between the lip/cheek and soft tissue of the lower jaw because this is where the tobacco typically has the most contact with the mouth.

Causes and Risk Factors
Doctors, dentists, and scientists don’t know exactly what causes mouth cells to mutate, forming oral cancer, but they have identified a number of risk factors that describe indicate who may be at risk.

Tobacco use has been directly linked to oral cancer; those who smoke are six times more likely to develop the disease, and those who use chewing tobacco are 50 times more likely to receive a diagnosis. Excessive alcohol consumption, sun exposure, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are also risk factors.

Certain populations, such as adults over the age of 40, men, and those with a family history of cancer, are also more likely to develop the disease, though scientists haven’t determined whether these demographics themselves are risk factors or if people in these groups are simply more likely to have other risk factors counting against them.

Is Oral Cancer Common?
Though oral cancer isn’t often in the media, it is actually more common than Hodgkin’s lymphoma, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and many other cancers that are often the subject of news reports and public service announcements. In 2014, over 40,000 people were diagnosed with oral cancer. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, that number is expected to leap by 10,000 to 50,000 this year for 2016 oral cancer diagnoses.

Schedule Your Oral Cancer Screening Today
Much of the high mortality rate associated with oral cancers can be attributed to the high frequency of late stage diagnoses. As this form of cancer exhibits few symptoms during its early stages, patients are often unaware that they have cancer until the condition has spread to other parts of the body, making treatment and remission more difficult to attain.

With this in mind, preventive screenings and biopsies are critical components to early detection and proactive oral cancer treatment. In Lorton and Springfield, oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel works closely with local dental oncologists and dentists to develop post-radiation treatment solutions, helping patients retain their oral function through restorative oral surgery. For more information about these procedures, contact your nearest location today.

What is a Root Canal?

If you panic whenever you hear the word “root canal,” you’re not alone. However, root canals are common procedures that can make a positive impact on your oral health and overall well-being. Once you know the facts about root canals, you’ll see that they are safe and effective solutions to a number of dental health problems. 

When is a Root Canal Necessary?

When a tooth has become infected and begins to decay, your dentist might recommend a root canal, a procedure in which the inner pulp and root of a tooth are removed to prevent further spread of the infection. 

Internal tooth decay can occur when a weakness in the tooth’s structure, such as a cavity or crack, exposes the inner pulp chamber to bacteria. The most common symptom of internal tooth decay is tooth pain or sensitivity when exposed to changing temperatures. Tooth discoloration and bumps on the gums can also be signs of internal infection. If left untreated, an infected tooth can cause abscesses, or painful lumps filled with pus, and cause bacteria to spread to other parts of the body, such as the face, neck or head.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a common procedure during which general dentists remove the infected nerve and pulp from inside the tooth, clean and sterilize the inner chamber, then seal the tooth and cover it with a restoration. 

Although the saying “about as much fun as a root canal” has permeated American culture, the reality is much different - the root canal process is similar to having a cavity filled, and doesn’t typically cause much discomfort or any pain. Typically, the root canal procedure is a quick, outpatient process that is performed in a general dentist’s office. 

In some instances, however, more comprehensive treatment is needed to completely remove infected tissue. Known as apical surgery, this includes the removal of part of the root. In the event the bone has been severely damaged as a result of tooth abscess, bone grafting and other surgical treatments may be the best solution to restoring comprehensive oral function and health. 

How is the Tooth Restored?

Traditionally, crowns are used to restore teeth following root canal therapies. However, if you frequently require root canal retreatment or have experienced serious damage as a result of an abscess, dental implants may offer a more comprehensive restorative solution. As implants are embedded into the jaw, they help to reinforce jaw strength as well as stimulate healthy bone regeneration which is critical for patients with compromised bone structure. Similarly, implants leave patients with a natural replacement tooth that is impermeable to future reinfection. 

At Lorton – Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, our Lorton and Springfield locations offer comprehensive bone grafting and dental implant solutions for patients recovering from serious tooth infection. For more information about these procedures, contact your nearest location today. 

Understanding the Dental Implant Treatment Process

Compared to traditional restorations like partials, full dentures, and bridges, dental implants and implant-based restorative treatments offer an innovative solution to replacing missing or severely damaged teeth. However, the longevity of this treatment is based on the success of each stage of the implant process. These unique phases include:

Planning
During this stage, advanced diagnostic tools are used to provide our dentist with an in-depth look at the condition of a patient’s smile. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, cone beam digital imaging is used to generate three-dimensional models of the patient’s mouth and jaw bone. Not only do these tools allow our dentist to determine whether a patient is an ideal candidate for dental implants, but they also provide our oral surgeon with the means to plan the strategic placement of the implants.

For patients requiring preliminary treatment to strengthen the jaw bone prior to the placement of dental implants, cone beam imaging helps Dr. Patel to pinpoint areas of bone deterioration and incorporate necessary pre-treatments into the larger implant procedure to ensure long-term success.

Placement & Recovery
Once any preliminary bone grafting or ridge augmentation procedures have been completed, Northern Virginia oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel uses computer-guided surgery to precisely embed the implant into jaw bone. To help patients remain comfortable during this surgical procedure, our team offers several different sedation options.

During the recovery phase following implant placement, the implant and bone slowly merge, known osseointegration. The successful completion of this naturally-occurring phenomenon helps the implant become an integral part of the dentition. Over the course of recovery, patients visit our Lorton and Springfield practices to ensuring successful healing and integration.

Restoration
Towards the end of the recovery phase, visits to our oral surgery practices also include creation of the restoration. Depending on your oral health needs, the prosthetic you receive may range from a single porcelain crown to comprehensive arch replacement with a hybrid denture or implant-supported overdentures.

Schedule your Implant Consultation Today
Dr. Patel and his team are dedicated to helping patients find the right solution for their dental needs. With offices located in Springfield, VA and Lorton, VA, Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery offers diverse implant-based treatments tailored to meet your goals. We welcome new patients are well as referrals. To learn more about the long-term benefits of this restorative treatment plan, contact our oral surgeon today.

The Many Uses of Dental Implants

For many patients facing oral rehabilitation procedures, selecting the correct dental restoration can be an overwhelming process. In particular, identifying which treatment will most effectively improve the health and function of the smile without compromising other parts of the dentition can be an overwhelming task. Depending on the condition of your smile as well as your oral health goals, certain treatments may be more effective and efficient than others. Consider the following conditions:

Root Canal Therapy and Retreatment
Preventing reinfection following root canal therapy is an important component of the overall treatment. In most cases, patients are able to enjoy healthy, fully functional smiles and retain their original tooth by opting for a porcelain crown. However, in cases where the root is continuously becoming infected, patients may be better off from a health and functional perspective by removing the tooth and replacing it with a dental implant.

Periodontal Disease
While this condition is better known for its impact on gum health, untreated gum disease can also affect the health of the jaw bone and teeth. In extreme cases, bacteria erode the bone tissue, causing it to become unstable and unable to support teeth. For patients experiencing the symptoms of advanced periodontal disease, extraction of the compromised tooth, bone grafting of the compromised area, and restoration with a dental implant may be the best option to prevent the disease from causing further damage to the bone and jaw.

Tooth Fracture or Crack
Restoring tooth function following a fracture is highly dependent on the position of the fracture or crack as well as whether bacteria has infected the inner pulp chamber, causing more serious dental infection. While minor fractures above the gum line may be easily remedied with a root canal and crown, more severe instances where the tooth has been severely compromised may require a more permanent solution to tooth replacement.

Extensive Arch Damage
In severe cases of damage and decay, entire arches of teeth may require replacement in order to help patients regain oral functionality. While dentures may seem like an ideal, financially sound idea, the long-term maintenance and replacement costs as well as the future health implications of this removable restoration can quickly outweigh any advantages. For these individuals, implant-supported dentures or hybrid dentures offer the security and stability of dental implants combined with the convenience of traditional dentures.

Dental Restoration Options in Northern Virginia
At the oral surgery practice of Dr. Snehal Patel, our team is dedicated to helping patients of varying oral needs find a restorative solution that addresses immediate dental needs while ensuring lasting oral health and hygiene. For more information about including dental implants or implant-supported dentures into your comprehensive treatment plan, contact Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery today.

The Versatility of Dental Implants

Like any other aspect of dental care, the type of restorative treatment you receive is dictated by your oral health and function needs. Over time, advancements in treatment techniques have opened the door for versatile solutions that have the capability to comprehensively address a variety of dental issues. In particular, innovations in dental implants and implant-supported restorations have transformed how a number of oral conditions can be easily solved. 

Why are Dental Implants so Versatile?

Much of the versatility of dental implants stems from how implants are integrated into the dentition. Unlike traditional restorations which depend on surrounding tissue and teeth for support, implants are surgically embedded into the dentition. Not only does this eliminate the risk of compromising neighboring teeth, but the self-supportive nature of dental implants allows this restorative treatment option to become a fully incorporated part of the dentition. 

Additionally, dental implants are designed to look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth. Not only does this ensure proper integration into the bone, but it also facilitates and enhances normal dental function. The embedment of the implant post into the bone helps to stimulate healthy bone growth, preventing bone resorption as well as preserving the integrity of the facial structure. This beyond-the-dentition advantage makes dental implants and implant-supported restorations ideal for cases of both isolated as well as comprehensive tooth loss. 

The Advantages of Dental Implants for Single Tooth Replacement

Instances where only a single tooth requires replacement are often the result of isolated trauma or infection. Traditional restorative solutions often required bridges as a temporary answer to restoring function and aesthetics to the teeth. However, bridges require the neighboring teeth be filed to make room for the bridge, leaving these adjacent teeth vulnerable to decay and further restorative treatment. 

By using dental implants instead of fixed or removable bridges, patients are able to wholly restore their smiles without compromising their oral health and without damaging the neighboring teeth. 

Why Replacing Multiple Missing Teeth with Dental Implants is a Viable Option

For patients missing several teeth to entire arches, conventional treatment options are often restricted to fixed bridges, partials, and dentures. With the exception of fixed bridges, these traditional restorations lacked stability and reliability, leaving patients uncomfortable and lacking confidence in the functionality and aesthetics of their restored smile. 

Dental implants are a viable option as they can be used to stabilize new and existing multiple-teeth restorations of varying sizes. As they are fully integrated into each patient’s jaw, they work in conjunction with the rest of the smile to provide patients with lasting oral function and aesthetics. At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, dental implants can be used to support a wide array of multi-tooth prostheses, including bridges, overdentures, and hybrid dentures. 

Finding the Best Dental Implant Solution for Your Smile

Northern Virginia oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel and his team are dedicated to helping all patients find the right restorative solution for their smile. By offering a wide range of dental implant and implant-supported treatment options at both our Lorton and Springfield dental practices, our team offers comprehensive, versatile solutions for diverse dental problems. Contact your nearest Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery practice today to learn more about the advantages of implant dentistry.