How Are Dental Crowns Attached to Implants?

Your smile says a lot about you. When you have suffered tooth loss, the function of your mouth, your appearance, and your oral health are affected. One method to improve your smile is through implant-supported dental crowns in Harriston. Continue reading for more about this tooth restoration technique.

What Are Implant-Supported Crowns?

It is a tooth restoration comprising three parts: a dental implant, an abutment, and a dental crown. An artificial tooth crown is affixed to the dental implant and secured in the jawbone. Implant-supported crowns help restore the whole tooth from the roots to the crown. The implant replaces the tooth roots, while the crown replaces the portion of the tooth above the gum line.

The restorations are used to replace a single missing tooth with artificial teeth that look and feel natural. It also encourages jawbone regeneration in the socket of the missing tooth. Implant-supported crowns are better than the traditional dental bridge. It is because the process does not affect the teeth adjacent to the gap, unlike in the dental bridge procedure.

Implant-Supported Crown Procedure

• Fixing the dental implant

After administering appropriate anesthesia and sedative for a pain-free treatment, this process begins. Next, the dentist will surgically fix the titanium post into the jawbone of the missing tooth. It will take almost six months for the implant to fuse with the bone creating a sturdy anchor for the crown.

• Attaching the abutment

The dentist will immediately attach the connecting device to the post when the implant is in place. Then, a temporary crown will be placed in the gap until healing takes place. These are known as same-day dental implants. Alternatively, the dentist may wait until the healing process is complete. Only then does the expert attach an abutment device to the implant.

• Preparing the crown

Once the abutment is in place, the dentist will take an impression of the implant and surrounding teeth. They will use this impression to create a customized dental crown. Since various types of materials fabricate crowns, a dentist will help you choose a suitable one. It may take two weeks or less for the caps to be ready for placement.

• Attaching the crown to the implant post

The last step of the dental implant procedure involves attaching a crown to the implant. A dentist near you in Harriston, ON, can use two ways to attach dental crowns to implants. They are:

• Screw-retained dental crowns

The dentist may screw the crown to an abutment in the dental implant. Screw-retained dental crowns are durable and easy to repair. The dentist will only need to unscrew the crown from the abutment, repair and then restore it. In addition, this method provides excellent stability to the crowns making it suitable for use in chewing teeth.

Screw-retained dental crowns are excellent for restoring teeth with same-day dental implants. They help restore primary function to the tooth restoration. In addition, the method allows the dentist to replace more teeth in the future. For example, if teeth adjacent to the crown fall out, a dental bridge can be anchored to the implant.

• Cement-retained dental crowns

Your dentist may attach the crown to the implant with dental cement. This adhesive is tooth-colored therefore attaching the crown to the implant discreetly. It does not cause discoloration like in screw-retained crowns, making it ideal for restoring front teeth. However, dental professionals at the dental office in Harriston, ON, do not use them often.

Although the dental implant is permanent, the crown is not and will need a tune-up at some point. The crown may get stained, chipped, or worn down. Therefore, it will have to be detached from the implant, repaired, and replaced. Since the adhesive is permanent, removing the crown will break it apart. The cap will have to be replaced with a new one increasing the repair cost.

Are you considering a dental implant restoration? Contact us at Harriston Family Dentistry for dental implant restorations. We customize the crowns to look natural and function like real teeth. In addition, we offer various types of dental crown materials for a beautiful, natural-looking smile. You can also contact us if you need alternative restorations for your teeth.