About Us

Lourdes Ann Christopher, D.D.S., M.S., Cert. Perio
Diplomate- American Board of Periodontology Implant Surgeon

Originally from Chicago, Dr. Christopher is a 3rd generation dental specialist. Her grandfather, father, and 2 uncles practiced orthodontics for the US Army and in Chicago for many decades. Dr. Christopher received her undergraduate education at Wellesley College, in Massachusetts. She received her dental training at the University of Illinois-Chicago School of Dentistry where he also taught dental students as an instructor. Following dental school, Dr. Christopher served as a General Dentist for the U.S. Public Health Service serving Native Americans in New Mexico. She continued her education at The Ohio State University earning her specialty certificate in periodontics and also received a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology with her research focus on DNA fingerprinting of bacteria and peri-implantitis.
Dr. Christopher was a clinical instructor at the University of Maryland Dental School and was voted as a faculty of the year and selected by the 1999 graduating class as one of the 3 faculty members to award their doctoral of dental surgery degree during graduation ceremonies. Dr. Christopher has been active as an instructor as she is an examiner at the VCU Dept of Periodontics for the mock boards. Dr. Christopher is a guru in the area of gum grafting. She has developed a modification of the tunneling technique using allograft and has presented her technique in many meetings in the US and internationally in many countries. She has been invited to present her periodontal plastic surgery (gum grafting) techniques at 4 annual meetings of the American Academy of Periodontology.

Dr. Christopher and her husband Dr. Favagehi have been practicing in Falls Church since 1999. They have both been selected by their peers as the best periodontist, or 'top dentist' in multiple surveys conducted by the Washingtonian, Northern Virginia magazine, and Virginia Living magazine.

Mehrdad Favagehi, D.D.S., M.S., Cert. Perio
Diplomate- American Board of Periodontology
Implant Surgeon

Dr. Favagehi graduated from Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry (Virginia Commonwealth University) in 1994. He completed his specialty training in periodontics & Dental implant surgery at The Ohio State University in 1997 where he also received a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology and received a research award for groundbreaking research on surgical wound healing.

Dr. Favagehi has been an adjunct faculty member (Clinical Assistant Professor) at the Dept. of Periodontics (VCU School of Dentistry) since 1998. In 2011, he received a Teaching Award from the American Academy of Periodontology. He is a member of the American Dental Association, Virginia Dental Society, American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and Academy of Osseointegration (AO). He has served on various committees with AAP, and AO including chairman of Research Submissions Committees (AO) and Editor of Academy News (Academy of Osseointegration).
Dr. Favagehi is an active presenter at many dental meetings in the USA and internationally. He has presented at annual meetings of IADR, ADA, AAP, AO, AAOMFS, CAOMFS, and many state and regional dental societies, etc. Dr. Favagehi has authored scientific publications published in refereed scientific journals and has authored a book chapter about lasers in periodontics (Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry, 3rd edition, Elsvier Publishing). 

Dr. Favagehi is a Director of Osseointegration Foundation (OF). The foundation is a philanthropic organization associated with the Academy of Osseointegration with multi-million dollar funding of scientific implant research projects and philanthropic patient care involving dental and oral/maxillofacial implants. Dr. Favagehi also serves as a member of the American Dental Association (ADA) Council on Dental Education and Licensure -CDEL committee on recognition of dental specialties and special areas within general dentistry.

Originally from Iran, Dr. Favagehi grew up in Tehran, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Cupertino, California where he attended high school. He received his undergraduate degree (BS Biology) at George Mason University in 1990. He married Dr. Christopher about 25 years ago and they both live near their office with their daughter Dana, and son Zachary.