Dental implants offer a permanent and natural-looking alternative to dentures or bridges. These secure tooth restorations consist of a titanium or ceramic post placed into the jawbone, providing a strong foundation for a dental crown.
If you are considering dental implants, it’s important to understand the process of placing the implant and getting your final dental crowns. Here’s what you need to know about dental implants prior to crown placement.
Your Dental Implant Needs to Heal Before the Permanent Crown Placement
After the placement of the dental implant, there is a period of healing that is crucial for the success of the procedure. The bone needs time to fuse with the implant through a process called osseointegration, which typically takes several months [1].
During this time, the implant becomes firmly anchored in the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for your permanent dental crown. It’s essential to follow your dentist’s post- operative instructions and attend any follow-up appointments to ensure proper healing and avoid any delays in getting your final crowns placed.
Every patient’s treatment timeline may differ based on their unique healing process and implant placement. Your dentist will evaluate your progress and determine when it is appropriate to proceed with the final crown placement.
You May Have Temporary Dental Crowns in the Meantime
During the healing period, your dentist may provide you with a temporary crown to cover the implant site.
This temporary crown will protect the implant and help you have a natural-looking smile while the permanent crown is being fabricated. However, it’s important to understand that these temporary crowns are not meant to function as permanent ones, so there will be restrictions for eating—such as avoiding chewing gum and sticky foods—with these crowns [2].
It’s essential to follow any care instructions for temporary crowns provided by your dentist to ensure they remain in place and do not cause any damage to the healing implant.
How Crowns Fasten to Implants
Once the implant fully integrates with the jawbone, it’s time for your final crown placement. Your dental crown will be custom-made to match the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth, providing a seamless and natural appearance [3].
Depending on your unique treatment, the crown is usually attached to the implant using an abutment, which connects the implant and the crown. The abutment is screwed onto the implant, and the crown is then attached to the abutment, creating a secure and long lasting restoration.
If you have an implant-supported bridge or all-on-four dental implants, your prosthesis placement will be a little different, but you will still have a secure final restoration where you can bite, chew, and smile without worry.
Ask Your Dentist About the Dental Implant Process
Dental crowns are part of what make dental implants a successful restorative procedure when you’re missing natural teeth. Find out more about what your dental implant and crown placement process will look like by scheduling a consultation with your experienced dentist today!
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3602536/
2. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(21)00616-4/pdf
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/crowns
