Dental Implants & Tooth Replacement
If you're missing one tooth or several, you have more tooth replacement options in Falls Church, VA than you might expect. At Merrifield Oral Surgery, our board-certified oral surgeons use techniques ranging from a single dental implant to full-arch reconstruction to help you chew, speak, and smile with confidence again. We welcome new patients, accept most dental insurance plans, and offer bilingual care in English and Spanish, so you can talk through your options in the language you're most comfortable with.
Call (703) 639-0027Every smile is different, so the right fix depends on how many teeth you're missing, the health of your jawbone, and your own goals. Options range from a single implant that replaces one tooth root, to implant-supported bridges for a few missing teeth, to full-arch solutions that restore an entire jaw. If your jawbone has thinned from bone loss, bone grafting can rebuild a strong foundation before implants go in. This page gives you an overview of each path so you can see where you might fit before your consultation.
Replacing a missing tooth does more than fill a gap. It helps you chew comfortably again, supports clearer speech, and keeps neighboring teeth from shifting out of place. Implant-based options are also designed to preserve jawbone that can shrink once a tooth root is gone. Many patients tell us that a restored smile brings back confidence they didn't realize they'd lost.
A dental implant replaces a single missing tooth root with a small titanium post, topped with a natural-looking crown. Guided by 3D CBCT imaging, our surgeons plan each implant's position with precision, which supports a comfortable procedure and a stable, long-lasting result.
For patients missing most or all of their teeth in one jaw, full-arch reconstruction uses as few as four strategically placed implants to support a complete, fixed set of teeth. It's designed to give you a functional, natural-feeling smile without a removable denture.
If you want more stability than a traditional denture offers without the cost of a full fixed arch, implant-supported overdentures snap onto a small number of implants. This helps keep your denture secure while you eat and speak.
When the jawbone is too thin or soft to support an implant, bone grafting rebuilds the site first. Our surgeons may use platelet-rich plasma (PRP), drawn from your own blood, to help support healing at the graft site before implant placement.
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Our team is made up of board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons, including Dr. Margaret K. Pham, who trained locally in Northern Virginia and speaks Spanish, along with colleagues trained under respected mentors in bone grafting and implant surgery. We use guided, CBCT-based planning to place implants with precision, and our team calls patients after surgery to check on recovery, a step many patients say puts them at ease. We also accept most dental insurance and welcome patients who are new to our practice.
Call (703) 639-0027A missing tooth rarely stays a simple gap. Over time, the jawbone beneath it can shrink from lack of stimulation, and nearby teeth may drift or tilt into the open space. This can change your bite and make future tooth replacement more involved, often requiring bone grafting first. Addressing a missing tooth sooner, rather than later, generally keeps your options simpler.
Questions
Most healthy adults are candidates for some form of tooth replacement, even if you have bone loss or have worn dentures for years. During your consultation, we review your health history and take 3D imaging to determine whether implants, a full-arch solution, or bone grafting first is the best path for you.
Yes. We offer sedation options designed to keep you calm and relaxed throughout your procedure, and our team walks you through every step beforehand so there are no surprises. Many patients tell us the experience was easier than they expected.
Timelines vary depending on your chosen option and whether you need bone grafting first. A single implant may be ready to restore in a few months, while full-arch reconstruction and grafting cases can take longer. We'll give you a personalized timeline at your consultation.
Coverage depends on your specific plan and the procedure recommended. Our office accepts most dental insurance and can help you understand your benefits before treatment. Visit our insurance and financing page for more details.
Your Next Step Starts Here
Our board-certified surgical team is ready to walk you through your choices in a calm, unhurried consultation.