Dental Implants

In Arlington and Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area.

When a tooth is missing, it’s easy to see the gap, at least when it’s part of the person’s smile. The gap that we don’t see is inside the jawbone, where that tooth’s root used to be. Dentures and bridges can be great solutions to fill the visible gap, and have been used for many years.

But what is not usually shared with denture and bridge patients is that eventually they will be unable to have a comfortable denture or bridge. That is because as we age, the gums shrink, the facial structure changes, and dental appliances which used to fit no longer do. With no replacement for missing roots, the jawbone shrinks, changing the bite. This is why dental implants are such an outstanding procedure.

What do Dental Implants do?

The implant is a replacement for the missing tooth root. It holds a replacement tooth, and together they fill both the visible and invisible gaps. They are a permanent solution for tooth loss. The new tooth is made of porcelain or acrylic and will look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth.

The Implant Procedure

Implants are dental surgery. Once you and Dr. Kim have determined that this is the way to go, and your mouth has been examined, measured and photographed, there are three steps:

The implant is positioned in the jawbone. If you lost this tooth years ago, the bone will have become smaller by shrinking to fill the gap. Sometimes a bone graft is needed to give enough bone width to hold the implant. That would be a separate and preliminary surgery. But if you are correcting a recent tooth loss, there will still be the hole left by the lost root. Dr. Kim will position the implant in this space and suture the gums.

It will take two to six months for the jawbone to grow closely in around the implant. This will make it a sturdy anchor for the new tooth.

In a more minor surgery, Dr. Kim will attach a small abutment to the top of the implant. The gums will heal up in two or three weeks after this. The abutment is partly beneath the gum tissue and partly projecting above it.
The new tooth is attached to the abutment.

Dental implants can be done as part of a full mouth reconstruction – where several procedures are combined to correct a misaligned bite, or to repair damage caused by an accident or trauma. They can also be part of a smile makeover, if you have a tooth gap in your smile.

Our office has invested in CEREC technology, which means that we can design and mill your new tooth right here in our office. This saves you from having to come back for another visit after waiting for a dental laboratory to make your tooth.

Please call or email our Arlington, Virginia office if you would like to know more about dental implants, and whether they would be a good option for you. Dr. Kim will give clear answers to your questions, and will explain how it would work for you.

Duke H. Kim, DDS, MAGD
(703) 931-5555
Contact us

Cosmetic and Comprehensive General Dentistry
Serving Arlington, Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area