Though it is extremely unfair, we are often judged (and misjudged) by our appearance. Even if a person is impeccably dressed and groomed, a missing front tooth detracts from the overall pleasing impression.

Here is a personal story from a woman who lost a tooth:

I lost my job and along with it my dental insurance, then a month later, one of my front teeth. It has been very hard to find work…. and I know the missing tooth has cost me several jobs.”

A missing tooth can be a big deal.

Dental implants not only restore oral health, they restore self-confidence. Dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth. Studies have shown that after more than 20 years, the vast majority of dental implants placed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons continue to function at peak performance. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.

Dental implants are one of the procedures we routinely perform at James D. Geren, DDS to help our Mt. Vernon clients regain the beautiful smile they once had. Not all cosmetic dental procedures are as extreme as teeth implants. There are many minimally-invasive remedies for unattractive smiles.

Porcelain veneers instantly provide a perfect, gleaming tooth surface for Mt. Vernon clients with broken or discolored teeth. Tooth whitening is a quick and affordable dentistry procedure in Mt. Vernon that achieves dramatic results without requiring the removal of any tooth structure. Call James D. Geren, DDS at 703-996-4666 for more information about smile design and restorative dentistry.

-Dr. James Geren, DDS

You may think that hiding your smile as you zip around Alexandria running errands or dropping kids off will make your cosmetic dental problems disappear. Think again. At James D. Geren, DDS we have been treating the residents of Alexandria since 1983 and have seen the results of neglected teeth and gums. Don’t let your smile deteriorate any longer, call me today at 703-996-4666 to begin restoring your smile.

One of our specialties at James D. Geren, DDS in Alexandria is dental implants. Whether you have damaged or lost your tooth due to injury or gum disease, we have custom treatment plans to restore it. Our happy Alexandria dental implant patients have discovered that implants look and feel like their own teeth.

Dental implants are great for producing a foundation for dentures, supporting a bridge, or replacing a damaged tooth without disturbing the surrounding teeth. Since dental implants interface into the anatomy of your jaw they help reduce bone loss and gum recession.

My staff and I at James D. Geren, DDS would love to have a consultation and develop a comprehensive treatment plan for you. Your smile is our number one priority, make it yours as well and you will be healthier and happier.

We provide advanced general and cosmetic dentistry including sedation dentistry, TMJ treatment and dental implants.

The effectiveness of teeth bleaching in Mt. Vernon depends partly on the types of stains.

Extrinsic tooth stains are the easiest to remove. These surface stains have not yet penetrated through the enamel into the dentin. Extrinsic stains are caused by dark-colored foods and beverages like blueberries, carrots, coffee, red wine, and cola. And nicotine is no better for your smile than it is for your lungs.

Unfortunately, even if you avoid these common teeth stainers, your teeth will become discolored over time. Like gray hair, wrinkles, and memory lapses, a dull smile is an inevitable part of aging for Mt. Vernon retirees.

Intrinsic tooth stains develop from the inside out. Tooth injury and tetracycline are the usual culprits. Intrinsic stains are more difficult to remove completely, but it is possible to lighten them with professional tooth whitening available at your Mt. Vernon area cosmetic dental office.

If your teeth are stained, whether from coffee, tetracycline, or excessive fluoride, call James D. Geren, DDS at 703-996-4666. We have treated many Mt. Vernon clients with extreme tooth discoloration.

It is never too late or too early to brighten your smile.

Mt. Vernon seniors can take years off their appearance by restoring the youthful white smile they once enjoyed. Area teens and young adults with surface stains can prevent them from becoming intrinsic stains with tooth whitening.

Speaking of the younger set, did you know that people who drink energy drinks are at risk for many dental problems?

James D. Geren, DDS is the cosmetic and family dentistry specialist in Mt. Vernon. Discover why hundreds of Mt. Vernon families trust us with their smiles.

Call us at 703-996-4666.

Once the tooth has been pulled, you have many decisions to make. Can I afford a dental bridge? Do I want to damage two healthy teeth to anchor the bridge? Should I go with a partial denture? What about bone loss?

What if you could have a fresh start? What if you could have a permanent, natural looking tooth replacement that would restore your smile and retain the healthy bone and gum tissue around the tooth root?

With a dental implant from James D. Geren, DDS, you can. A dental implant is a permanent replacement for all parts of the tooth. A cosmetic dental implant consists of three parts: the titanium post, the abutment, and the restoration.

The Titanium Post
—Inserted directly into the jaw bone
—Extremely strong
—Titanium is unique in that it bonds with living bone tissue (also used in knee and hip replacement surgery)

The Abutment
—Can be made of gold, porcelain or titanium
—Permanently attached to the post (it will not slip and slide like dentures)

The Restoration (Crown)
—Usually made of porcelain fused to a metal alloy (PFM)
—Porcelain crowns are made to match the color of surrounding teeth
—Will look as good or better than the tooth it replaced

Dental implant surgery is not an experimental treatment. The materials and techniques have been tested and refined for several decades. It has been performed by Alexandria dentists and prosthodontists for over twenty years. To schedule a restorative dentistry consultation, call 703-996-4666.

Dr. James D. Geren
James D. Geren, DDS
8101 Hinson Farm Road, Suite 114
Alexandria VA
703-996-4666
http://www.cosmeticdentistalexandria.com/about-us/about-dr-geren/

When Cervantes wrote Don Quixote, there was no way to replace teeth that were lost to trauma or decay. We are fortunate to live here in Mt. Vernon at a time where there is a permanent replacement for missing teeth-the amazing Dental Implant.

A dental implant, or tooth implant, is anchored into the jaw bone. It does not slide around like a removable denture. It functions just like a natural tooth.

With a dental implant, you can talk, chew, and brush like normal. Eat that steak. Laugh out loud. Sing at the top of your lungs!

The dental implant procedure available in Mt. Vernon is not an experimental treatment. Dental implants have been available for many years. You can be sure that the dental implant procedure has been fully tested and tweaked to perfection. The success rate for dental implants in Mt. Vernon is almost one hundred percent.

If you have a missing tooth and want to get a tooth implant, it is important to choose an experienced Mt. Vernon cosmetic dental specialist to perform your implant procedure. To schedule a dental implant or cosmetic dentistry consultation, call 703-996-4666.

A Mt. Vernon dental implant is a strong and beautiful tooth replacement that, incidentally, costs much less than a diamond of similar size. (See the quote at the beginning of this article.) To discuss financing options, contact our office.

At James D. Geren, DDS, we offer the full spectrum of restorative, cosmetic, and family dentistry services. If you need a gentle family dentist to put your kids at ease or a precision smile design artist, we invite you to meet Dr. James D. Geren, DDS.

At James D. Geren, DDS, we are committed to providing superior dental care for patients from birth to 80.

Alexandria family dental care is critical, and that is why we recommend bringing your Alexandria child in for a first exam before age one, or when their first tooth erupts. During the initial visit, we can discuss dental treatments such as sealants, fluoride treatments, brushing and flossing techniques and clear braces.

Alexandria children’s dentists also counsel parents about thumb-sucking, pacifier use and other habits that affect your Alexandria child’s dental health. We can also help you keep your child’s teeth protected during sporting activities. Call us immediately at 703-996-4666 if your child has a dental emergency or Alexandria tooth injury.

Our caring staff will make your child feel comfortable during their Alexandria dental visit.

In additional to offering experienced Alexandria kid’s dentistry, we are also a full-service cosmetic dental clinic. We offer advice and care on porcelain veneers, tooth implants, teeth whitening, tooth bonding, and restorative dentistry.

We hope to be your Alexandria family dentist.

-Dr. James D. Geren, DDS
703-996-4666

Reduction of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a more common problem among older adults, however, people of all ages in the Alexandria area may experience the symptoms of dry mouth at one time or another. These symptoms include a dry, red tongue, difficulty swallowing, and persistent sore throat.

Sometimes dry mouth in Alexandria cosmetic dental patients is caused by a disease or infection, but a more frequent cause of dry mouth for patients is prescription medications.

Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Alexandria) are just some of the drugs that list ‘dry mouth’ as a common side effect.

It is common for allergy-prone James D. Geren, DDS dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the Alexandria hay fever season.

Aside from being an uncomfortable nuisance, untreated dry mouth can cause tooth damage for Alexandria dental patients. Adequate saliva is necessary to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acidic environment caused by plaque. Extensive tooth decay and gum disease can occur in the absence of saliva for Alexandria dental patients with chronic dry mouth.

If you are unsure of the cause of your dry mouth, or if you are looking for dry mouth treatments, call James D. Geren, DDS to schedule an appointment with Dr. Geren.

When you visit James D. Geren, DDS in Alexandria, please be sure to bring a list of medications you are taking so Dr. Geren can give you an accurate diagnosis.

Dr. James D. Geren
James D. Geren, DDS
8101 Hinson Farm Road, Suite 114
Alexandria, VA
703-996-4666
http://www.cosmeticdentistalexandria.com/about-us/about-dr-geren/

Hello Alexandria friends of James D. Geren, DDS! Thanks for stopping by the ultimate family dentistry blog. Today we are talking about personal transformation. Many Alexandria men and women want to reinvent themselves in at least one aspect of their life.

Some people are training for a new career. Some men and women have made a healthy lifestyle a priority by making better food choices and working out on a regular basis. Some Alexandria people are dedicating more attention to their personal relationships.

At James D. Geren, DDS, Dr. Geren skillfully uses advanced cosmetic dentistry to transform lucky patients with complete smile makeovers.

A comprehensive smile redesign involves more than applying four or six porcelain veneers to the upper front teeth. Though veneers can dramatically improve a smile, a complete smile makeover is a total smile transformation.

Dr. Geren evaluates the condition, size, shape, alignment, and color of the teeth. These elements are created, meticulously refined, and integrated in perfect harmony. The procedures Dr. Geren adeptly uses are dental crowns and bridges, inlays/onlays, clear braces, teeth whitening, and dental implants.

Like any artistic masterpiece, a perfect smile is far more than the sum of its parts.

If you have a vision for your smile, it can become a reality at James D. Geren, DDS. Schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation today by calling 703-996-4666 or visiting http://www.cosmeticdentistalexandria.com/about-us/about-dr-geren/.

I enjoy discussing options and developing effective treatment plans tailored specifically to each person. Some of my clients desire a total smile makeover. I explain in detail the treatments available including teeth whitening, dental veneers, clear braces, crown restoration, and dental implants.

If a client is nervous about undergoing treatment, we discuss oral conscious sedation. Oral conscious sedation, sometimes called sedation dentistry, is a great option for anxious patients. Dental visits do not have to be painful!

After the treatment has been completed, it is very gratifying for me to see my patient’s reaction to their new smile.

I never get tired of creating dramatic smile transformations for the best clients in Mt. Vernon!

If you have been considering a smile makeover, let’s talk about your smile. Call James D. Geren, DDS at 703-996-4666 to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation.

If you are trying to unsweeten your diet, you are probably skipping the usual suspects: candy, soda, and baked treats. But not all sugar is as obvious as the frosting on a piece of chocolate cake or the powdery stuff in pixie stix.

Here are some foods found in Alexandria area grocery stores and local school cafeterias with a surprisingly high sugar content:

• Ketchup
• Low Fat versions of snack foods (Manufacturers often replace fat with sugar.)
• Salad Dressing
• Breads, buns, rolls
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Protein Bars
• Granola
• Canned soup
• Peanut Butter
• Yogurt
• Fast food meals (Hamburgers, fries, sandwiches, and salads are often loaded with sugar, not to mention the dessert items.)
• Antacids
• Cough drops
• Fruit smoothies (Even a small serving has a whopping amount of sugar.)

Reading the fine print on labels is a must. The following terms are all types of sugar:

raw sugar, cane sugar, glucose, lactose, galactose, fructose, dextrose, honey, sorghum, molasses, cane sugar, confectioner’s sugar, crystallized cane juice, invert sugar, maltodextrin (or dextrin), maple syrup, concentrated fruit juices, evaporated cane juice (what kind of cane do you think we are talking about?)

Do the math: when shopping at Alexandria area markets or health food stores, carefully decipher food labels before you buy. Four grams of sugar equals one teaspoon. Add up all the grams of every type of sugar listed and divide by four to truly understand how much sugar an item contains.

At James D. Geren, DDS, we advocate and practice preventative family dentistry for lifelong dental health. For more information on how your diet affects your dental health, contact us at 703-996-4666. If you are in need of cosmetic or restorative dentistry as a result of neglected dental health, contact us today. We offer a wide range of dental procedures, including laser dentistry, sedation dentistry, porcelain veneers, crowns and dental implants.

We are located at 8101 Hinson Farm Road, Suite 114 in Alexandria VA.