Dr. Jelinek has more than 30 years of experience serving Fairfax, Arlington, Annandale, Falls Church and surrounding Northern Virginia communities. He is an exceptional dentist who never stops learning. While dentists in Northern Virginia are required to take only 15 hours of continuing education per year, Dr. Jelinek averages close to 150 hours each year. He was voted as the Top Dentist in Washingtonian Magazine, NOVA Living Magazine and Washington Checkbook.
Dr. Jelinek graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1978 and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1987. He is extremely proud of his Spartan West Point upbringing and transfers that same discipline to his dental practice.
Dr. Donohue has more than 25 years of experience serving Fairfax, Falls Church, Tysons Corner and surrounding Northern Virginia communities. He is another exceptional dentist who also exceeds the CE credit requirement per year, striving to keep current with the most up-to-date knowledge. Dr. Donohue has been recognized as a Top Dentist in our area due to his passion and commitment towards his patients.
The dental practice of Dr. H. Charles Jelinek is a premier general and cosmetic dentistry practice in Fairfax, Northern Virginia, offering TMJ treatment, bad breath treatment, gum disease treatment, and much more to Arlington and other area residents. Our patients always feel welcome at our dental practice because we treat them as we would treat our own families, with the utmost consideration, respect, and courtesy. In fact, many patients tell us they have never felt more comfortable and cared for in a dental office.
Our patients often comment that they have never had such thorough new patient oral exams. They also comment on the thoroughness of our explanations. Because we are so dedicated to our patients, we want to make sure we dedicate as much time to you as possible; for this reason, we do not over-schedule. This gives us time to complete thorough oral examinations and catch potential problems such as gum disease before they become more serious. Moreover, many patients report to us that their previous dentist did not conduct oral cancer screenings.
Cleanings and dental hygiene are important parts of general dentistry. Professional cleanings help you maintain a healthy oral flora, which may prevent certain conditions, such as gum disease, from developing. For this reason we recommend that you undergo regular cleanings at our Fairfax, Northern Virginia dental practice.
Oral cancer screening is perhaps the single most important screening procedure at our dental practice. Oral cancer screening allows us to identify potentially cancerous tissues even before a person has any symptoms. By the time symptoms become apparent, it may be too late. For this reason, we offer oral cancer screenings which are manually performed by Dr. Jelinek; we do not use a machine. We believe this allows for the maximum accuracy when screening for oral cancer.
Dr. H. Charles Jelinek extracts a damaged tooth by removing it from its socket in the jawbone. Dr. Jelinek may be able to salvage a damaged or decaying tooth with fillings, crowns, or other treatments, but if a damaged tooth is beyond repair, tooth extraction may be the only option.
Some of the common reasons for tooth extraction are extra teeth which block others from coming out, wisdom teeth, and the placement of braces. People who are receiving cancer drugs or who have infected teeth may also require tooth extraction.
Our Fairfax and Arlington-area dental practice also provides periodontal treatment. As one of our patients, youll undergo a thorough periodontal examination to determine potential problems. A lack of proper dental hygiene can lead to a buildup of bacteria, which may, in turn, cause gum disease and other complications.
Periodontal treatment may take many forms. Non-surgical periodontal treatment procedures include scaling, root planing, and dental cleanings to remove tartar buildups. Scaling and root planing are highly effective periodontal treatment procedures. Periodontal treatment may also take the form of surgery. In such cases, the tissue around your teeth will have to be repaired.
Untreated gum disease may result in permanently damage to tissues. Early treatment of gum disease is critical in preventing infection and tooth loss. But Dr. Jelinek can only do so much in preventing gum disease from developing. In order for gum disease treatment to be effective, you must regularly brush and floss your teeth. You must also regularly come in for check-ups and cleanings and avoid or decrease tobacco use.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone, can be subject to a condition know as TMJ disorder. Some of the common symptoms of TMJ disorder are ear pain, neck pain, swelling of the mouth, and muscle spasm.
Too often, bad breath can interfere with a persons personal as well as social life. For this reason, Dr. H. Charles Jelinek came up with a comprehensive bad breath treatment plan. Treatment for bad breath or halitosis can take many forms, from home treatment kits to breath improvement products. In order to successfully treat bad breath, a multi-stage, holistic approach is required. An accurate diagnosis is the first step to successful bad breath treatment.
Contrary to popular belief, bad breath is not only caused by dental decay. Kidney diseases, diabetes, and gallbladder dysfunctions are some of the possible reasons for bad breath. For this reason Dr. Jelinek urges his patients to seek professional help for bad breath treatment. At our Fairfax, Northern Virginia dental practice, our thorough new-patient exams and treatments can help identify some of the causes for bad breath and successfully treat this condition.
Dental emergencies can arise for several reasons. In case of a dental emergency, Dr. H. Charles Jelinek is only a phone call away. In fact, our No Waiting policy allows us to see our patients within a few days, or the very same day if theres a dental emergency.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring element which helps protect teeth and prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is found in various foods such as meat, fish, and eggs, as well as in water and tea. Fluoride strengthens the enamel of a tooth by remineralizing the enamel, thus helping to prevent tooth decay.
Children with developing teeth are usually at greater risk of developing cavities. Fluoride treatments such as prescription rinses and gels can remineralize the enamel and prevent tooth decay. If your child has a history of tooth decay or cavities, Dr. Jelinek can explain to you how fluoride treatments can help prevent cavities in children.
Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on the grooves of the back teeth. The chewing surfaces collect germs and food particles which lead to cavities. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that can be applied to these grooves to protect teeth from decay. Dr. Jelinek does not drill or remove tooth structure when applying dental sealants; in fact, the process is short and simple.
Snoring appliances come in many forms and shapes. If you are suffering from obstructive snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea, snoring appliances can help to remedy this condition. There are several ways to treat snoring. Snoring therapy can take the form of a throat spray that coats the soft tissues of the throat with lubricating oils. Nasal dilation devices, which can either be small adhesive strips that hold open the nasal airways, plastic nasal devices, or nasal sprays, can also help reduce snoring. Perhaps the most common device among snoring appliances is a mouthpiece, a small plastic device that prevents the soft throat tissues from obstructing the airway.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects people of all ages. It is an involuntary cessation of breath that occurs while someone is sleeping. Those who have this disorder stop breathing for at least 10 seconds at a time, ultimately leading to fragmented non-refreshing sleep. This disruption can occur hundreds of times per night, sometimes for one minute or longer.
Snoring doesn't just interrupt your sleep cycle. The struggle for breath can result in high blood pressure, which can damage the walls of the carotid arteries and increase the risk of stroke. At certain levels of severity, complete blockage of the airway by the soft tissues and tongue can occur. If this period of asphyxiation lasts longer than 10 seconds, it is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a medical condition with serious long-term effects.
During sleep, muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth relax, shrinking the airway. This increases the speed of airflow during breathing. As the speed of required air is increased, soft tissues (like the soft palate and uvula) vibrate. The vibrations of these tissues result in 'noisy breathing' or snoring. This means that the airway has collapsed and the muscles are failing to maintain their normal function.
Surgical techniques used (tonsil removal, correction of deviated septum or removal of nasal polyps) have shown only moderate success rates with the chance of complications afterwards. Many ENT physicians encourage their patients to try non-invasive oral appliance therapy prior to any invasive surgical procedure. With so many advances in the field of dentistry, patients now have the option to be conservatively and successfully treated with an oral appliance.
A custom-fabricated intraoral dental device moves the lower jaw (mandible) into a forward position, increasing space in the airway. This extra space that is created prevents the airway from collapsing, which can help prevent snoring.
