Restorative dentistry at U Shine Dental, under the expert care of Dr. Irene Shin, is your solution for restoring damaged or missing teeth. Whether you need dental fillings, crowns, bridges, or dental implants, our team is dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized treatments that restore your smile's function and aesthetics. Dr. Shin uses advanced techniques and materials to ensure long-lasting results and a comfortable experience, for top restorative dentistry services in Alexandria, VA and beyond! Schedule your restorative consultation today and let us help you revive your strong, healthy smile.
Dental Implants
Dental implants
offer a modern solution for missing teeth, as a natural-looking and long-lasting alternative to traditional dentures or bridges. These strong, innovative replacement teeth are designed to mimic the structure and function of your natural teeth, providing a durable and aesthetically pleasing solution for tooth loss.
Dental implants are made of titanium, a biocompatible material that integrates seamlessly with your jawbone. This process, known as osseointegration, creates a strong and stable foundation for your new teeth.
At U Shine Dental, the dental implant process typically involves several steps. First, Dr. Irene Shin will assess your oral health to determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. Then, the implant is surgically placed into your jawbone. Over several months, the implant fuses with your jawbone. Once the implant has healed, a connector known as an abutment is attached to it. Finally, a crown, bridge, or denture is placed on the abutment to complete the restoration process and your restored smile.
Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF)
At U Shine Dental, we're dedicated to utilizing the most advanced techniques to ensure optimal outcomes for your restorative procedures. That's why we offer Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) Therapy, a cutting-edge approach designed to significantly speed up your body's natural healing and recovery process. PRF is a concentrated byproduct of your own blood, rich in powerful growth factors. These growth factors are essential proteins that act as messengers, allowing cells to communicate and coordinate the complex processes of tissue regeneration and repair.
During a PRF therapy procedure at our Alexandria dental office, we'll take a small sample of your blood. This sample is then placed in a specialized centrifuge machine, which spins it at a high speed to separate and concentrate the beneficial platelets, white blood cells, and other cells containing vital growth factors. The resulting PRF is then carefully reintroduced to the surgical site to promote optimal healing.
We commonly integrate PRF therapy into our restorative treatments at U Shine Dental, particularly during bone grafting procedures. PRF therapy is safe, effective, and 100% natural. Advantages of using PRF therapy in bone graft procedures include:
- Reduced health risk. Derived from the patient's blood, PRF therapy reduces the risk of infection, disease, allergic reaction, and rejection.
- Convenient treatment. PRF therapy simply requires a fast, convenient blood draw in an outpatient procedure, performed right here at U Shine Dental.
- Accelerated healing and recovery. Using the body's natural regenerative capabilities, PRF therapy helps you heal more quickly and comfortably after a procedure, helping the tissue regenerate faster, with reduced discomfort and minimal risk of complications.
- Minimally invasive and multi-functional. PRF therapy is minimally invasive for patients of all ages. In addition to aiding bone grafts for dental implants, PRF therapy can also be applied in placing dental onlays, inlays, and treating cleft lip and palate.
By harnessing your body's own healing potential, PRF therapy offers a safe, effective way to improve the success and efficiency of your restorative treatments at U Shine Dental.
Sticky Bone
When a tooth is extracted, the bone that once supported it naturally begins to resorb, or shrink, almost immediately. This can lead to a reduction in bone volume that may compromise the success of future dental implant placement. To counteract this and ensure a strong foundation for your implants, our team at U Shine Dental may recommend a ridge augmentation or ridge preservation procedure.
One advanced material we utilize for these procedures is Sticky Bone. Sticky Bone is a highly effective bone graft material created by combining Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) with injectable (liquid) PRF. This unique combination is rich in essential growth factors and stem cells, which significantly accelerate bone regeneration and healing. Here's how it works:
- PRF provides a stable, fibrin matrix that acts as a scaffold for new bone growth.
- Injectable PRF, in its liquid form, infuses this matrix with a concentrated dose of growth factors and stem cells, further enhancing the body's natural healing and regenerative capabilities.
- Together, PRF and injectable PRF form a safe and powerful "sticky" bone grafting tool. When applied to the tooth socket immediately after a dental extraction or during a ridge augmentation procedure, Sticky Bone helps to rebuild and preserve the bone structure. This robust bone foundation is crucial for a successful dental implant integration and long-term stability.
By preventing further bone degeneration and promoting robust new bone formation, Sticky Bone significantly improves the predictability and success rate of your dental implant procedure for more long-lasting results!
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are custom-made caps that are placed over damaged or weakened teeth to restore their function and appearance. They can also be used to cover dental implants or to improve the aesthetics of misshapen or discolored teeth.
Dental crowns are typically fabricated in a dental laboratory using various materials. The choice of material will depend on factors such as the patient's needs, the tooth's location, and aesthetic preferences. At U Shine Dental, we offer various types of dental crowns to fit each patient’s needs:
- All-Porcelain Crowns: These crowns are made entirely of porcelain, offering a highly aesthetic and natural-looking option. They are often used for teeth in the front of the mouth.
- All-Ceramic Crowns: Similar to all-porcelain crowns, all-ceramic crowns are made from a ceramic material. They are known for their strength and durability, making them suitable for both front and back teeth.
- Zirconia Crowns: Zirconia is a strong and durable ceramic material often used for dental crowns. It is highly biocompatible and can be used for both front and back teeth.
- Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) Crowns: These crowns consist of a metal core covered with porcelain. They are a popular choice for back teeth due to their strength and durability.
Dental Bridges
Dental bridges offer several benefits, including improved chewing and speech, enhanced aesthetics, preserved jawbone, and convenience. By replacing missing teeth, bridges can restore your ability to chew and speak clearly. They can also help to fill in gaps in your smile, improving your overall appearance. Additionally, dental bridges can help to prevent bone loss in the jaw, which can occur when teeth are missing. Unlike removable dentures, bridges are fixed in place, eliminating the need for daily removal and cleaning.
A dental bridge consists of a replacement tooth, known as a pontic, connected to crowns on either side of the gap. These crowns are cemented onto the adjacent teeth, providing a stable foundation for the bridge.
At U Shine Dental, we offer two types of dental bridges:
- Traditional Fixed Bridge: The traditional fixed bridge is the most common type of dental bridge. It's a reliable and versatile option that involves placing crowns on both the teeth adjacent to the gap. These crowns act as anchors, supporting the pontic (replacement tooth) in between. This type of bridge is ideal for situations where there are healthy teeth on both sides of the missing tooth or teeth.
- Implant-Supported Bridge: Implant-supported dental bridges are a type of dental bridge that is anchored by dental implants rather than the adjacent teeth. This provides a more stable and durable foundation for the bridge, making it a suitable option for patients who may have weak or damaged adjacent teeth. The implants are surgically placed into the jawbone and allowed to fuse before the bridge is attached. This type of bridge offers excellent stability, improved chewing function, and a natural appearance.
If you're missing teeth, consider dental bridges as a potential solution. Contact Dr. Irene Shin at U Shine Dental for a consultation to determine if you're a suitable candidate.
Root Canal Therapy
At U Shine Dental, we offer root canal treatment to remove areas of the inner portion of tooth that have become infected. When the tooth's pulp becomes infected, it can cause severe tooth pain and even impact your total-body health if left untreated. Gentle root canal therapy at our Alexandria dental office can help the tooth heal, restore, and become even stronger.
Our team works to detect when root canal therapy is needed as early as possible, before an infection has the chance to spread through the body. Your gentle root canal treatment will be sealed with a dental crown custom-shaded to blend with your natural smile!
Removable Dentures
Removable dentures are a popular option for replacing missing teeth. They can be a convenient and affordable solution, especially for patients who have lost multiple teeth. At U Shine Dental, we offer various types of removable dentures to suit your specific needs.
- Immediate Dentures: These dentures are made in advance and can be fitted immediately after tooth extraction. They provide temporary support and comfort during the healing process.
- Partial Dentures: Partial dentures are used to replace some of your teeth. They are held in place by clasps or attachments that connect to your remaining natural teeth.
- Complete Dentures: Complete dentures are used to replace all of your teeth in a single arch (upper or lower). They are supported by the gums and soft tissues of your mouth.
- Flipper Dentures: These are temporary dentures used to replace a single missing tooth or a small group of teeth. They are typically made of acrylic and are held in place by clasps or attachments.
- Overdentures: Overdentures are supported by dental implants, providing a more stable and comfortable fit than traditional dentures. They can be either fixed or removable.
Our experienced restorative dental team in Alexandria will work with you to determine the most suitable type of denture based on your specific needs and preferences. We offer custom-made dentures that are designed to fit comfortably and provide a natural-looking smile.
Restore Your Smile with Your Trusted U Shine Dentists
\With innovative technologies and a caring, customized approach, our team offers state-of-the-art smile restoration for tooth loss, tooth damage, and more. Your dentist will partner with you to help you meet your goals for a new, stronger smile! Contact us today at our Skyline or Old Town office location to get started by scheduling your restorative dentistry consultation.