Bone Grafts for Dental Implants: Why A Bone Graft May Be The Perfect Remedy For What Ails You

June 17th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

If you have been missing one or several teeth for a period of time or if you have damaged teeth, you may be considering getting a dental implant. With a dental implant, new teeth are surgically implanted into your jaw using metal posts to give you a healthier, more beautiful smile and better function of your teeth. However, in order for this type of surgery to be successful, the dental implant must be completed in an area of the mouth where the bone is strong and healthy enough to support the implantation of the metal posts.

Facial bones will unfortunately begin to deteriorate over time when you do not have a full set of healthy teeth in your mouth. While the bone will not entirely go away, it generally may become too thin or too weak to accommodate a dental implant. The most common remedy that a maxillofacial surgeon may use to remedy this situation is a bone graft.

If a bone graft is required or recommended by a maxillofacial surgeon as part of your dental implant process, the surgeon may feel as though your bone is not strong enough to accommodate the implant. A bone graft is a rather simple type of surgery that supplements the existing bone with new bone. While it was common at one time for this bone to come from other areas of the patient’s body, it is now more common for synthetic or animal bone to be used.

When a bone graft is recommended, the dental implantation process is slightly different. First, the tooth is removed, and the bone graft procedure is completed. The area must heal fully before the dental implant can be completed, and this healing process may take several months.

When one or more of your teeth is missing or damaged, the function of your mouth and the look of your smile can be negatively affected. You may have difficulty talking, eating, drinking and performing other basic functions, but these can be remedied with a bone graft and implant. In addition, a bone graft and dental impact can improve the structure of your jaw and your smile with beautiful results.

Whether you are struggling with a damaged tooth, you have a missing tooth or you have been told that your facial bones will not support a dental implant, a bone graft may be the best remedy. With a consultation with a maxillofacial surgeon like Dr. Patel, you can learn more about this relatively painless procedure, and you can determine if it is recommended for your situation. Contact our offices today at (703) 436-4633 to book your initial consultation. We look forward to meeting you!

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Insurance Coverage and Dental Implants: Here is What You Need To Know

June 13th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

Whether you’re in need of dental implants due to a dental emergency or you simply want to replace your aging dentures, you might be wondering whether or not you can expect any coverage from your dental insurance provider. Below we’ll share a few points about insurance coverage and dental implant; for more information give the Lorton Oral Surgery offices a call at (703) 436-4633 and one of our professional staff will assist.

In short, a dental implant is a type of artificial tooth root that is surgically melded to your jaw bone in order to connect to a replacement tooth or teeth. Dental implants essentially function as ‘anchors’ to allow for a far more stable tooth insertion, especially when compared to dentures.

This is a difficult question and largely comes down to the type of dental insurance coverage that you have with your insurance policy. While some portions of the dental implant process are typically covered in most quality dental insurance plans, many will not provide coverage for the surgical placement of the implant itself. The conditions for which the procedure was required will play a part as well; for example, if you were to require dental implants due to trauma experienced in a car accident, insurance may pick up the full cost of this procedure. If you’re electing to have a dental implant installed as opposed to a denture as a matter of personal preference, they may choose to decline coverage. Dental insurance coverage varies widely from policy to policy.

Note that the amount of reconstructive work and the number of dental implants that you require may enable you to leverage a health insurance policy instead of dental insurance. There are numerous health insurance plans that consider major jaw work to be ‘restoration of normal chewing function’ and thus your dental implants would be covered in this case. Again, this is something that is usually determined on a case by case basis.

It’s important to note that some dental insurance policies treat emergency and elective oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures differently. An emergency procedure is one which must take place and is typically due to some sort of accident; there are numerous plans out there that will cover these treatments. Elective procedures are those which you choose to undergo but are not immediately required. Check with your dental insurance provider to determine if you have emergency coverage, elective coverage or both.

The best way to determine if you have adequate coverage for a dental implant procedure is to give your insurer a call. Checking their website and browsing through your plan information is certainly doable, but most dental insurance policies are full of intricacies and specifics that are better interpreted over the phone.

The Lorton Oral Surgery team is happy to share some tips and advice when it comes to dental insurance and how to cover the cost of your dental implant procedure. Call us today at (703) 436-4633 to book in an appointment; we’ll be happy to share our insight and see how we can be of help.

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Five Excellent Reasons To Finally Replace That Missing Tooth

June 12th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

Missing a single tooth in an otherwise healthy mouth can range from mildly irritating to a significant blot to one’s self-esteem. Below we’ll look at five excellent reasons to visit our offices and to get that missing tooth replaced with a quality dental implant.

The main reason that individuals get missing teeth replaced is simple: they’re tired of seeing the ‘gap’. While cosmetic reasons are good enough on their own, don’t forget that teeth play critically important functional roles in your body’s health as well. If you’ve grown tired of seeing a gap where a tooth used to reside, don’t worry… it takes just one phone call to the Lorton Oral Surgery at (703) 436-4633 to get your initial appointment booked.

While you might imagine that a missing tooth is an isolated issue that won’t cause trouble, this isn’t always the case. If your tooth is completely missing you may find that gums around that area are more prone to infection; if bacteria take hold in the area this can begin to affect nearby teeth as well. If you are missing a tooth and you see discoloration around the socket or are noticing more bleeding from that area than normal, we recommend that you book an appointment with us as soon as possible.

Dental procedures are not without cost and for those who are lacking adequate insurance, it may seem like a good reason to delay a tooth replacement. However, once your budget can tolerate it – or you have an insurance plan that includes this type of treatment – it’s worth having that missing tooth replaced. If you’re in Lorton, Springfield or the surrounding area, give us a call and we can lend some advice on covering the cost of a dental implant and how your insurance may cover it.

Delivering the keynote speech at an upcoming conference? Running for the local politics? Whatever the big event might be, if you’re going to be gazed upon by hundreds you’re going to need all the confidence you can muster. A tooth replacement – especially via dental implant – is a relatively-easy procedure with a quick recovery period. You will, however, want to get in as early as possible to ensure adequate time for any pre-work.

Congratulations! In all seriousness though, a missing tooth is a cosmetic feature that can limit your career opportunities in fields where your face and smile are highly visible. If you’ve decided that your career goals involve the bright lights, the runway or the silver screen, you may want to book an appointment so our team can show you how a dental implant will easily fill the gap.

There’s no shortage of good reasons to replace a missing tooth; the above are just a few. When you’re ready to discuss a replacement tooth or dental implant, call the Lorton Oral Surgery team at (703) 436-4633 and we’ll get the process started. We look forward to seeing that smile!

Blog Lorton VA, Lorton Springfield Dental Implant & Oral Surgery

You Ask, We Answer: How Long Will My Dental Implant Last?

May 28th, 2014 by Dr. Patel

Whether you’ve just received new dental implants or you’re currently weighing your options, you might be wondering how long dental implants are expected to last once the procedure is complete and they’re fully installed. Below we’ll share some brief insight about implants; if you have any other questions, please contact the Lorton Oral Surgery offices to speak with one of our dental professionals.

Dental implants are a tooth or teeth replacement option that involves surgically placing a new tooth root into your jaw bone. After a settling period, this implant fuses with the surrounding bone and will support a denture or crown as required. The implant itself is made of titanium, the same material that is used in hip replacements or in bone screws used after a serious fracture. These implants are becoming incredibly popular as they are relatively low maintenance and last for a very long time if cared for, typically in the range of 10-20 years. In fact, some papers show that Gösta Larsson – regarded as the first recipient of a dental implant – still had his original implants 40 years after he received them!

Although the difference is small, dental implants failure rates do vary between those placed in natural bone versus those placed in grafted bone. According to recent data, the overall long-term success rate of natural bone implants is over 95%; this figure drops to between 85 and 90% when placed in grafted bone. There are numerous reasons to explain the difference, but the most important note is that as long as they are properly cared for, implants in either natural or grafted bone have a high long-term success rate.

There’s little doubt about it – if you smoke, your dental implants have a far higher probability of failure. Studies suggest that the dental implant failure rate in smokers is more than 2.5 times that of a non-smoker; this is a massive increase in risk that shouldn’t be ignored. We won’t get into the many (many!) reasons to quit smoking cigarettes in this blog post, but know that if you have dental implants you can rest assured that Dr. Patel or your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will be encouraging you to consider kicking the habit.

The most important factor in how long your dental implants last is… you! The care and maintenance of your teeth and gums, as well as your overall bone health – which is especially critical if you’re elderly – will play a critical role in how long your implants last. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can just brush and floss regularly. You will need to see your dentist and hygienist regularly for checkups and cleanings and so that your dentist can inspect your implants to ensure they’re in good shape.

In closing, dental implants are a safe, proven treatment that will last many years – decades, even – as long as close attention is paid to your oral health. If you have further questions about your dental implants, or if you are concerned that your implants are beginning to wear out, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Patel and the Lorton Oral Surgery team. We are happy to help!

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