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Dr. Despina Markogiannakis

MEET DR. Markogiannakis

Dr. Despina Markogiannakis

Dr. Despina Markogiannakis, affectionately called “Dr. Marko” by her patients, is the owner and operator of Smiles of Chevy Chase, where she treats patients from all across Chevy Chase, MD and the greater Washington, D.C. areas. Boasting over a decade of experience and excellence in the field of dentistry, Dr. Markogiannakis has built a reputation for being one of the leading dentists in the whole of the Washington, D.C. area. This accomplishment was cemented when she was voted as a Top Dentist by the Washingtonian magazine in 2021 and 2023. Throughout her flourishing career, Dr. Markogiannakis has committedly put her patients first on her list of priorities. She has worked hard to create a comfortable, professional environment built upon a foundation of trust between her and her many charges.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

After receiving her PractitionerBachelor of Science from the prestigious Georgetown University, Dr. Markogiannakis went on to receive her doctor of dental surgery from the School of Dentistry at Howard University. Dr. Markogiannakis received the highest honors and earned multiple clinical excellence awards during her tenure in school. In addition to this, Dr. Markogiannakis received perfect marks on the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (formerly called the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners) following graduation, further proving her excellence in the field of dentistry and her commitment to dental education as a whole.

SKILLS & SPECIALTIES

PractitionerDr. Markogiannakis is highly skilled in several areas of modern dentistry, specifically specializing in restorative, cosmetic, general, and implant dentistry. In addition to this, Dr. Markogiannakis and her team at Smiles of Chevy Chase also offer comprehensive dental care to families and patients of all ages. Over her years in the field of dentistry, Dr. Markogiannakis has refined her technical skill in performing a range of procedures. These include dental crowns, tooth-colored fillings, dental implants, in-office ZOOM teeth whitening, Lumineers, dental bonding and contouring, and dental bridges, as well as being a trusted provider of the ever-popular clear aligner orthodontic Invisalign.

An experienced dentist honing over a decade of exceptional performance in her field, Dr. Markogiannakis always does what she can to make her patients feel relaxed and at home among her dental family. She understands that many people can be fearful of their dental visits, which can often lead to people forgoing their oral appointments altogether. Because of this, Dr. Markogiannakis employs a range of patient relaxation methods into her practice, such as oral-conscious sedation, nitrous oxide sedation, and The Wand, an anesthetic device that many of her patients have expressed a deep appreciation for.

SOCIETIES & MEMBERSHIPS

Dr. Markogiannakis is an active member of the following associations and societies:

  • American Dental Association
  • American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
  • American Dental Education Association
  • District of Columbia Dental Society
  • Greater Washington Academy of Dental Studies
  • Renaissance Dental Study Club
  • Maimonides Dental Study Club
  • Spear Study Club

PERSONAL

When Dr. Markogiannakis is not in the office, she eagerly involves herself with her community in a variety of ways, namely by offering dental care to uninsured children. In addition to her deep community involvement, Dr. Markogiannakis likes to spend her time with her husband, three children, and two dogs. Although Dr. Markogiannakis’ primary passion in life is dentistry, she also enjoys sports, traveling, and photography.

Smiles of Chevy Chase is Changing the Standards of Dental Care

Reviews

"I have had a lot of dentists over the years and too much dental work - cavities, root canals, crowns, implants. Dr. Marko is as good as I've found. She's attentive, comprehensive and personable and has assembled a good staff in a nice office near the Friendship Heights subway stop. She'll help you create a plan and timetable to meet your budget and annual insurance limits. And she can reference other great dentists for more elaborate treatments She's on the younger side but very experienced. So she's a great dentist to choose for the long-term. As a bonus, she also accepts Aetna and other insurance. Many dentists of her high quality do not."

J.B.

Yelp

"Dr. Marko and her practice are wonderful; I could not recommend this dentist more. Dr. Marko is very capable, thorough, and takes time to explain the procedures. Jaime (dental hygienist) and Lisa at the front desk are fantastic. They take top notch care of my teeth and make the experience of going to the dentist positive, with friendliness and good energy. They make it easy to work going to the dentist into my busy schedule because all appointments are convenient and timely. The location is convenient too, in the Barlow building in Friendship Heights. They are great about explaining any questions I have about insurance and billing.  I have confidence and rest assured that under Dr. Marko's care my teeth will be healthy for years to come. Wonderful dentist and practice. I give the utmost recommendation!"

K.G.

Yelp

"After having a very poor experience with my prior dentist, I began a search for a new one.  I stumbled upon Dr Marko while doing a search through my insurance company.  After much research, I decided to give Dr Marko a chance.   My first appointment was a consult.  I felt very comfortable, almost as if I was being welcomed into a new family.  The entire staff was exceptionally welcoming, and Dr Marko was clearly knowledgeable in her field of expertise.  All in all... I knew that this office was a right fit for me! My second appointment was a routine cleaning.  Once again, the staff welcomed me with open arms, and treated me as a family member.   Dr Marko and her staff are incredibly friendly, and I would highly recommend her services to anyone searching for a new dentist."

C.B.

Yelp

"Went here for the first time today through a referral promotion with my company and I just need to say that she might be the best dentist i've ever gone to. The process of making an appointment was a little rocky as it seems like they may not have a front desk attendant and between making an appt on ZocDoc and then follow up calls for the appointment I received a confirmation for 12:30 while they received it for 1:00. With that being said I'd wait hours to keep using her as my dentist. Her dental hygienist is the sweetest and made the entire process painless and as I was on a tight schedule worked quickly and efficiently while still making sure I got everything I needed. Most hygienist and doctors don't take a ton of time to explain whats going on with your teeth and just tell you to floss more but she took a lot of measures to prevent issues that were starting to occur as I'm getting older and can stop them now instead of being a toothless wonder later. I highly highly recommend her and she has an awesome referral program to get you a free teeth whitening kit if you refer friends or family!"

A.G.

Yelp

"These guys are awesome. Great patient care and best of all they have a TV to watch while you are getting your teeth cleaned."

M.M.

Google

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