Restorative Dentistry in Old Town, Alexandria

Gone are the days when dentistry used to rely on amalgam ("silver") fillings to restore cavities. Modern materials have been shown to be far healthier for the mouth and body, not to mention look better, feel better, and can be done much more conservatively. Embrace a healthier, more natural-looking smile with composite resin dental fillings! Unlike traditional amalgam fillings, composite fillings are crafted from a tooth-colored resin that blends seamlessly with your natural teeth, avoiding the dark shadows left with amalgam fillings. Importantly, these fillings are not only visually more appealing but also offer a strong, durable solution for repairing cavities or decay. The resin chemically bonds to your tooth rather than being wedged in like amalgam, thereby preserving more of your original structure and reducing the chance of internal cracks that are so common with large silver fillings. Composite restorations typically feel as good as they look.

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When you are missing a significant amount of tooth structure, whether it is due to a large cavity, a cracked portion of your tooth or broken area, a developmental defect, or other structural issues, oftentimes a direct filling will not suffice. In these cases, we recommend the use of a lab-made, porcelain restoration to bring your tooth back to optimum health and strength. Depending on the size of the defect, this can be accomplished with a full coverage porcelain restoration called a crown (sometimes called a "cap,"), or a partial coverage restoration, often referred to as an inlay or an onlay. We always opt to remain as conservative as possible in our restoration choices, to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.

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There are many reasons that people may be in need of a full dental rehabilitation, also known as a full-mouth reconstruction. Perhaps you have suffered from severe dental trauma and have lost or broken many teeth, or maybe you have worn your teeth down so severely due to a lifetime of grinding, sleep apnea, excessive drug or alcohol use, acid reflux, or other issues, and are now dealing with a variety of dental difficulties. Restoring your smile back to optimal health and function is a life-changing procedure that restores your chewing ability and function, can improve speech, can improve jaw muscle tension and discomfort, can improve gum health, and of course, can and will improve your confidence from a cosmetic standpoint as well. 

Not all dentists are trained in the proper planning, execution, and management of full-mouth reconstructions, as it requires extensive training and knowledge after dental school in order to learn and perfect. Dr. Ahmed has pursued hundreds of hours of continuing education in the study and execution of full mouth rehabilitation, and can help get you back on track to feeling and functioning like yourself again.  

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Our office provides a range of solutions for replacing missing teeth, each tailored to meet different needs and preferences. 

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The gold standard of replacing a missing tooth is a dental implant. Dental implants are the most long-term, as-close-to-nature replacement for a missing tooth, restoring the function and strength of the natural tooth. Most importantly, it keeps a "one-tooth problem, a one-tooth solution." The stability and security is unrivaled with anything else that modern dentistry can offer.

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If you are not a candidate for a dental implant, a porcelain bridge may be an option for you. A dental bridge requires a tooth in front of and behind the missing tooth, which will serve as the anchors for the bridge. The bridge is cemented into your mouth for a long-lasting and durable result. These can be made for a single missing tooth, or when multiple teeth are missing, and can be installed either in the front of your smile or in the back.  

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An alternative to a traditional bridge is what is known as a "Maryland" bridge, which is a false tooth with one (or sometimes two) "wings" that are installed on the backs of the front teeth. This option is most common when a front tooth is missing, or for adolescents not yet ready for a dental implant. There are other unique scenarios when this may be recommended. 

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For quicker and more non-invasive options, there are removable options that you can consider. Removable partial dentures can be made in various shapes and sizes, from a single tooth, metal-free replacement, to a cast-metal framework to support multiple missing teeth. As always, the recommendations would be tailored to your unique needs. We also offer Essix retainers, which are virtually invisible, and have a false tooth inside of the retainer. These are a great option for temporary use, so that no one but you knows that you are missing a tooth. 

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Regardless of your dental situation and/or number of missing teeth, we have a solution that will best fit your goals and needs. 

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Toothaches can be a sign of a serious infection and cause significant discomfort. Fortunately, root canal therapy offers a solution to provide the relief you need and restore the health of your tooth.  During a root canal procedure, the infected "pulp" (nerve tissues) of the tooth is removed, and the area is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Once the tooth has been properly treated, it can be restored with a filling or a dental crown, depending on the integrity of the tooth, to help maintain its structure and function. Not only can root canal therapy alleviate the pain caused by the infection, but it can also prevent the need for a tooth extraction. By saving your natural tooth, you can smile with confidence and avoid more extensive and costly dental work down the line.

Have you been told you clench or grind your teeth, either by a loved one, or by your dentist? If so, you may benefit from an occlusal guard, also sometimes called a night guard. Custom made occlusal guards are significantly more effective than the over the counter appliances available to treat these conditions. First, your dentist will evaluate your particular situation to best determine the source of your clenching or grinding, as there can be a variety of causes, and each can require slightly different (or sometimes vastly different) treatment. Once your dentist has confirmed your condition, a determination of what particular appliance will best serve your needs will be made, and you will have high-resolution digital scans made of your upper and lower teeth, as well as your bite, in order to make your custom appliance.

Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that are a great option when a standard composite filling might not suffice, but the tooth is not quite a candidate for a crown. This is common when you have a large amount of missing tooth structure due to decay, but still have some healthy tooth remaining that you want to preserve. Inlays are best used to treat extensive internal damage within a tooth, while onlays are great at treating extensive loss of tooth structure, height issues within a tooth, or other surface deterioration.

Many people have white spots on their teeth! These represent areas of demineralization within the enamel. These white spots are often due to discoloration or “scarring” after orthodontic treatment, but can also be caused by developmental issues, fluorosis, trauma to the developing tooth, poor oral hygiene, and many other causes. In the past, the only way to treat these white spots was either to attempt to whiten the surrounding teeth to blend in better, which is not typically very successful, or it involved dental restorations. Old Town Smiles is proud to offer the revolutionary Icon Resin Infiltration treatment, which is an innovative, painless, and noninvasive way to treat these spots. This treatments essentially functions like a “magic eraser” to remove these spots, allowing for a more blended appearance.