Implants

dental implants, Potomac Falls Family Dentistry

Dental
Implants

Dental Implants: Your Best Choice for Beautiful, Permanent Tooth Replacements

At Potomac Falls Family Dentistry, we are pleased to offer our patients the most advanced and comfortable replacements for missing teeth: dental implants. If a patient loses a single tooth or if they have lost all upper and lower teeth, dental implants are the solution that can restore that patient’s ability to smile, laugh freely and eat whatever they want. Finally, it’s like they never lost any teeth at all. 

Learn more about dental implants and then call Potomac Falls Family Dentistry for a free consultation to get started on your own smile restoration. 
  • What Exactly Are Dental Implants?

    Implants are a method of replacing teeth with durable ceramic crowns (the white, visible part of the tooth) anchored to a titanium implant. This implant, which is surgically placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw, is highly compatible with human bone. When it bonds tightly with bone, it forms a secure anchor for the crown. 


    When the implant has bonded tightly with the bone in the jaw and the ceramic tooth has been attached to it, a patient has a stable, permanent replacement for a missing tooth, one that matches their natural teeth.

  • Why Dental Implants Are a Better Way to Replace Missing Teeth?

    Our patients find that dental implants are better in every way than earlier methods of tooth replacement. With ordinary dentures, a person has to be careful of what they eat and there’s always the possibility of dentures slipping or clicking embarrassingly. With bridges, special care is needed to make sure they last and they often trap food underneath. 


    When dental implants became available a couple of decades ago, finally patients had a way to get their smiles restored that would feel and function just like their natural teeth. When the implants are completed, there are no restrictions on what to eat. They will never slip like dentures. They will feel secure like a patient’s natural teeth. 


    When implants are used to replace all the teeth in a smile, a dentist and the patient can work together to design the exact smile the patient would like. When one or more teeth are being replaced, they can be designed to exactly match the patient’s other teeth. 


    What’s more, with implants, a patient can once again use normal biting pressure while eating. A person who has worn dentures for many years often finds that they must reduce the pressure of their biting and chewing, which means restricting the foods they eat. 


    What if a patient was planning to get a bridge to replace a missing tooth? Replacing that missing tooth with an implant means that teeth on either side don’t need to be reshaped to prepare them for a dental bridge; those healthy teeth can remain intact. 

  • Who Makes a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

    Before starting the implant procedure, a patient must have good general and oral health, with no signs of gum disease. There must be sturdy bone in the area into which the implant will be placed. 


    If a patient has been missing a tooth for many years, they may have lost some of the bone mass in that area. The bone may first need to be built up with a procedure called “bone grafting.” This procedure restores the thickness of the bone. 


    In this procedure, the gum is opened and tiny chips of natural or synthetic bone are placed next to the existing bone. The gum is then stitched up. These tiny chips encourage the patient’s own body to add more bone thickness to the area. When the bone is thick and stable, the implant can proceed. 

  • Why Choose Potomac Falls Family Dentistry for Dental Implants?

    Dr. Abdelrazek is not only extensively trained and experienced in providing patients with dental implants, she has distinguished herself from other dentists by extending her dental education three full years after completing dental school. After graduating from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Alexandria (Egypt), she completed a full year of internship at the same institution, followed by two years of advanced education during a residency at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. She has been practicing in this area for more than 15 years. 

The Procedure

The first step is preparing the bone in the jaw for an implant. A slender hole must be created in the location of the missing tooth to prepare it for the titanium implant. The implant is then slipped into this opening. For some patients, the gum is then stitched closed and the bone is allowed to heal. For other patients, the entire tooth replacement procedure may be completed in a single day. It depends on the dentist’s determination of which procedure will give each patient the best result and the patient’s specific needs.

In the first procedure mentioned, when the implant has bonded with the bone in the jaw, an attachment called an “abutment” is then secured to the implant. The abutment will be the connecting point between the white crown and the implant. Finally, the crown is created in the lab and secured to the abutment. The patient now has a strong, complete smile again.

When the procedure is to be completed in one day, the teeth will be attached to the implant on the same day the implant is placed in the jaw. The time required to complete one dental implant or a whole mouth restoration varies by the patient’s dental situation and health and the specific implant procedure used. The best approach is worked out utilizing detailed x-ray imaging, an examination of the patient’s teeth and bone structure and then a conversation between the patient and Dr. Abdelrazek.

Dental Implants and Dentures

When a patient has lost all the upper or lower teeth, or both, dentures can be anchored to specially-placed dental implants. There are two anchoring methods: permanently connected dentures or dentures that can be snapped onto special attachments at the top of each implant. These removable implant-supported dentures can be unsnapped for cleaning. Usually, between four and six implants are used as anchors.

Implant-anchored dentures provide a good solution for many people. Their dentures no longer slip when they eat or talk and they no longer require adhesive. 

Dental implants can also be used to secure bridges. In this case, two implants can serve as anchors for three or four new teeth. Implants offer many ways to help a dentist like Dr. Abdelrazek restore patients’ smiles.

Guided Implant Surgery and Its Benefits to You

Dr. Abdelrazek has trained on providing Guided Implant Surgery to her patients receiving implants. This procedure utilizes detailed pre-treatment x-ray imaging and planning to plot the best positioning for the implant. Once this has been calculated, precise guides are used to control the position, angle and depth as the implant is placed. Guided Implant Surgery helps a dentist correctly position the implant to ensure its success.  

Many dentists are not trained and experienced in Guided Implant Surgery, but Dr. Abdelrazek is. Depending on the characteristics of each case, Dr. Abdelrazek will determine if Guided Implant Surgery is right for the patient. 

Sedation Assistance Is Available

In addition to focusing on achieving a perfect result while completing this procedure, Dr. Abdelrazek wants to make sure that every patient is comfortable. She is fully certified in providing pre-appointment sedation as well as medication for pain relief during the appointment. Even an anxious patient can begin their care with the confidence that they will be comfortable throughout their treatment. 

If anxiety prevents you from receiving the care you need, please call Potomac Falls Family Dentistry to learn how we can help you. 
Special Offer for New Patients
For patients from Sterling, Great Falls, Ashburn, Oak Grove and other nearby communities, Dr. Abdelrazek is your best choice for dental implants or any family dentistry needs. Start on the path to restoring your smile by calling 703-444-6150 and asking for a free consultation on dental implants for new patients.
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