Family Dental Services in Washington DC

Diagnostic Exam

Washington DC Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend biannual dental exams (at least two times a year) to help maintain good oral health. At your initial comprehensive dental exam and periodic recall exams, Dr.Kham will perform a series of evaluations, which include

• A review of your medical history to help us stay informed of your overall health
• Oral cancer screening to check for any signs of oral cancer. It may also include an advanced oral cancer exam known as Velscope, which detects early cancer lesions under a special non-invasive light
• Examination of dental x-rays (radiographs), which is essential for the detection of decay, tumors, and bone loss. Dental x-rays also help determine tooth and root positions. We invested in the latest digital x-ray technology to provide the highest quality images at the absolute lowest radiation dose.
• Periodontal (gum) exam to check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
• Examination of teeth to check all tooth surfaces with special dental instruments. Your existing fillings, crowns, and other dental restorations will also be checked to make sure they are in good condition.

Professional Dental Cleaning (prophylaxis): Usually performed by Dr. Kham or our Dental Hygienists. It includes

• Removal of plaque, which is a soft, sticky invisible film on the teeth composed of bacteria and food debris
• Calculus (tartar), which is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth and firmly attached to the tooth surface
• Teeth are polished to remove stains that are not otherwise removed during tooth brushing.

Dental education and oral hygiene instruction for proper oral hygiene techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums. We counsel patients about plaque control and developing individualized at-home oral hygiene programs.

Tooth-Colored Fillings

Tooth-colored fillings are also called composite resin restorations. We preserve as much tooth structure as possible during the preparation. Tooth-colored restorations are much more esthetic than silver fillings which contain mercury. We do not provide silver fillings at our office.

Crowns and Bridges

A crown is a full-coverage restoration that is placed on teeth that have large fillings or have lost a lot of their structure due to tooth decay, natural tooth fracture, or fracture of existing restorations or fillings. We offer several different types of crowns, ranging from full ceramic crowns, porcelain fused to metal crowns, and gold crowns. But ceramic crowns are our go-to dental crowns due to their high strength and pleasing esthetic. A bridge is a series of connected crowns to restore a missing tooth or teeth.

Dentures

Dentures are removable prostheses to restore missing teeth, and there are multiple types of dentures. Complete dentures entirely restore a mouth that has no remaining teeth, partial dentures restore some missing teeth, or implant-retained dentures (fabricated in conjunction with implants) provide additional stability to a denture.

Cosmetic dentistry is an area of dentistry that utilizes techniques and procedures to enhance the attractiveness of your smile.  We can improve the color, shape, and size of your teeth, as well as contour your gum line to give you a beautiful smile.

Teeth Whitening or Bleaching

This is a cosmetic dental procedure that whitens the teeth using a bleaching solution. Bleaching solutions contain oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. We currently offer two types of professional whitening treatments:

• In-Office Professional Whitening Treatment to whiten your teeth in a single day in one visit
• Custom Take-Home Whitening Trays to achieve and maintain an even and consistent whitening result

Veneers

Veneers are a thin shell of porcelain that are bonded to the surface of the teeth to change their shape, color, and position.

Cosmetic Bonding

Minor reshaping or restoration of teeth (especially front teeth) can be conservatively achieved with tooth-colored filling materials, also commonly known as bonding. Tooth-colored filling material is placed and sculpted to match or enhance the color and natural contours of your teeth.

Dental Implants

Implants have become the standard of care to replace missing teeth. Much research indicates implants are the best treatment option to replace missing teeth. A dental implant is a titanium structure that is placed into the jawbone to replace the tooth that has been lost. It can fuse to the bone to act just like the root of a tooth and form a strong foundation. After the implant is placed, a crown will be fabricated to fit onto the implant that will look, feel, and function like a normal tooth. Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, or they can be used in conjunction with a denture to replace an entire mouth of teeth.

Extraction and Socket Preservation

When a tooth is compromised in such a way that it is not salvageable or has a very poor prognosis, the tooth needs to be removed before it causes additional problems, such as infection.  Fortunately, modern dentistry has made this very easy, and teeth can now be extracted as atraumatically as possible. After the atraumatic extraction, bone grafting is usually performed in the area to preserve the bone architecture and help with future implant placement. Bone substitute, either synthetic or natural, can be placed in the area to replace bone defects and stimulate new bone growth.

Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

Washington DC Dentistry provides non-surgical periodontal treatment in the form of scaling and root planing. This is a procedure that cleans the plaque/tartar from under the gum line while you are under local anesthetic.

Crown Lengthening (Gum Shortening) and Gum Recontouring Surgery

This is a procedure where an abnormal gum contour is surgically repaired and restored to achieve good gum health. This treatment can also enhance the longevity of other restorative treatments.

Braces

Braces are the traditional and widely-accepted method of correcting crooked teeth. Washington DC Dentistry offers selective braces treatment that uses clear or white braces.

Invisalign/ Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are an alternative system to braces that uses a series of custom-made clear, removable aligner trays to shift your teeth into place gradually. Dr. Kham is Invisalign-certified and has been providing Invisalign treatments for more than 10 years. Invisalign clear trays are smooth and comfortable to wear, and virtually invisible.

Retainers

As the name suggests, retainers keep your teeth in a good position. Anyone who wants to keep their teeth in a good current position can wear retainers. If you have received prior orthodontic treatments, a retainer is a must. Wearing a retainer is a life-long commitment!

Root Canal

Root canal treatment is the process of treating the pulp space, the innermost part of the tooth, by removing the infected and contaminated nerve, tissue, and blood vessels, then disinfecting and sealing the pulp space with a special root filling material. After root canal treatment is done, we will usually fabricate a crown for the tooth to protect the tooth against fracture. A root canal is performed to save a tooth that would otherwise have to be extracted.

Children’s Dentistry

Children have unique dental needs. Their treatment and communication with their dentist will have life-long effects. Although the majority of patients we see are adults, we love seeing children. We provide prevention-focused dental care for children, such as check-ups, cleanings, and fillings. When interacting with children, our goal is to help establish good behaviors for dental health.

Laser Dentistry

Lasers are used in a variety of dental procedures. This technology can make dental treatments more efficient, cost-effective, and comfortable. We use minimally-invasive soft tissue lasers at our office.

Night Guard

Night guards will help protect your teeth from excessive wear and tear and help prevent TMJ disorder caused by bruxism/grinding. Grinding and clenching your teeth can cause premature wear and destruction of your teeth. If left untreated, this can lead to the need for additional dental work or cause pain and problems with your jaw joint and associated musculature.

Sport Guard

Custom rubber mouth guards are the best way to protect your teeth from the trauma that can occur during contact sports.  If you go to DC Public Schools and play any contact sports, we offer a 50% reduced fee for sport guards.