Dental Implants

Dr. Daria Hamrah performs dental implant surgery on patients who have a severely decayed, fractured, or missing tooth. While he does not affix the actual artificial tooth, he provides the essential steps to ensuring that your prosthetic tooth will have a strong foundation within your gum.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth attached to a post that Dr. Hamrah surgically implants. It is revolutionizing the way people are living with fractured or missing teeth, providing numerous benefits over antiquated reconstructive dentistry procedures, such as dentures:

• An aesthetically pleasing smile that will boost your self-confidence
• Dental implants look and feel natural
• Other teeth are prevented from shifting and your bite will remain aligned
• They are durable and long-lasting, able to withstand numerous stresses and allowing you to eat and chew with ease

Dental Implant Candidates

Advances in cosmetic and oral surgery have created numerous options for people to address tooth loss and decay. Dr. Hamrah only performs the actual dental implant surgery after a patient is referred from their dentist.

Those who qualify for dental implants must:

• Be in good oral health with strong, healthy gums
• Have an adequate amount of jawbone to support the implant. If a patient’s jawbone is weak, than reconstructive jaw surgery is required
• Not be a child, as children are still experiencing jaw growth

Dental implants are also an ideal solution to those who are dissatisfied with bridges or dentures, which feel uncomfortable, look artificial, and impair one’s ability to eat and speak clearly.

Read about Partial Dentures vs. Dental Implants.

The Dental Implant Procedure

The dental implant procedure is long and intensive. For those who experience dental anxiety, other reconstructive options might be better.
For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, dental implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. Your new teeth are being made during this time.
After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr. Hamrah will uncover the implants and attach small posts, which will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. These posts protrude through the gums. When the artificial teeth are placed, these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months.

Learn about Same Day Dental Implants.

To learn more about dental implants, please visit our Dental Implants Questions page.

If you live in the Washington, D.C. or Northern Virginia areas and believe you are a candidate for dental implants, please contact Northern Virginia Oral Surgeon Dr. Hamrah today to schedule your personal consultation to learn more about what we can do with dental implants.

A dental implant is type of procedure used to replace missing teeth to achieve a look and feel that is natural. The implants are surgically placed below the gums by attaching the implants to the jawbone and gum tissue. This process provides a stable base for one or more custom artificial replacement teeth called dental crowns. Dental implants are often the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth because unlike dentures that rest on the gum line or the use of the adjacent teeth as anchors, dental implants are long-term replacements.

After Dental Implants

New advancements in technology and techniques in dental implants have resulted in a more comfortable procedure with less recovery time. Another benefit is a more durable and natural looking implant.

The beauty of dental implants lies in that they are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth. The science behind this lies in the connection between the dental implant and the living bone. Although implants can be placed in one sitting they require a period of osseointegration. This is the process in which the bone fuses with the implant. In the first step, the implant is surgically placed in the jaw, then a healing process of anywhere from three to six months takes place in order for anchoring and healing. Once the implant has anchored with the jawbone an extension is attached. This requires first uncovering the implant under the healed gum tissue. Next, the extension, also known as a post, is attached to the implant. In some cases, the post may be attached during the initial procedure. When the post is in place, your dentist will make a crown, which has a size, shape, color and fit that will blend with your existing teeth. When the crown in completed it is attached to the implant post.

Dental Implant Recovery

The recovery time associated with dental implants varies on the complexity of the procedure. Generally, the healing can take up to six months and the fitting of the crown(s) can take up to two months. Most people can expect mild soreness, bleeding or swelling which can easily be treated with over the counter medication. Generally, patients can expect to be back to normal in a day or two.

Digital x-rays and CT Scan technology have allowed more precise viewing therefore better placement ability. This technology provides detailed three dimensional data such as the density of bone. This information allows Dr. Hamrah to create a precise treatment plan even before the patient comes into the office for the procedure. It also allows for a more comfortable procedure for the patient as Dr. Hamrah knows the exact placement, integrity of the jaw and the depth necessary for the post.

Why Choose Dr. Hamrah for your Dental Implants

Dr. Hamrah has been actively involved in dental implants for years. He also educates dentists and other specialists on the proper techniques and process of dental implants. Dr. Hamrah’s expertise coupled with a caring and highly skilled surgical staff is the reason patients choose NOVA SurgiCare for oral surgery and beautiful smiles.