Placing A Single Tooth Implant

When a tooth is missing, a dental implant with a crown is an excellent treatment for replacing it. 

Although each case will be different, placing an implant generally involves two phases, surgically placing the implant and restoring the implant with a crown. 




The benefits of an implant with a crown 


An implant restored with a crown has several advantages. The implant stops the bone loss that occurs when a tooth is lost, and it prevents the surrounding teeth from shifting into the space. Unlike replacing the tooth with a traditional bridge, there is no need to reduce the size of neighboring teeth. The crown with implant also looks and feels like your natural teeth when you chew and talk. 


With proper homecare and regular checkups, your implant can be a long-term solution for a natural-looking smile. 




Placing the implant


For the surgical placement of the implant, your mouth is thoroughly numbed. An opening is made in your gums, and then a channel is shaped in the bone to receive the implant. 


Next, we place the body of the implant into the prepared channel. Sometimes a cover is placed onto the implant and the gums are stitched closed. This method is called a two-stage procedure. In other cases that allow a single-stage procedure, an extension is attached to the implant at the time of surgery. 


Healing may take several months as the implant becomes fused securely to the bone. During this time, we may place a temporary replacement tooth. 




Restoring the implant with a crown 


If the first phase included closing the gums over the implant, the second phase starts with surgical re-exposure of the implant. Another incision is made in your gums, and a small extension is placed to bring the implant above the gumline. 


Then we start a series of appointments to create the final crown. Though some of the steps might be different in your case, they usually include removing any temporary and taking impressions of your mouth. 


The lab uses the impressions to make an accurate model of your mouth, including the implant. They use the model to create a crown that precisely fits the implant and your bite. 


When your beautiful final crown is ready, we check the fit and your bite and then secure the crown to the implant.