Dental implants have proven to be a great advancement in modern dentistry. Implants allow patients to have replacement teeth that feel more natural and work more like regular teeth while eating. You may, however, have concerns over whether or not an implant will look natural. After all, most people with implants are just having one or two teeth replaced as opposed to replacing all of one’s teeth with dentures. You may especially be concerned if the implant will be one of your front teeth. We hope our article will set your mind at ease.
How Implants Work
First, it is important to appreciate how dental implants work. One of the key factors when it comes to an implants is the integrity of the jaw bone. This will allow the implant to take hold and be grafted to the bone successfully. You also need the right amount of bone on the teeth next to the implant so that the papillae will grow properly. This adds to natural looking teeth by ensuring that the little pink triangles of gumline will regenerate after surgery. This also means that an implant will look more natural in between two regular teeth as opposed to being next to another implant. Finally, the thickness of your gum tissue will play a role. Gums that are eroding may eventually show the metal implant whereas healthy gums should cover it completely.
Matching Your Tooth Color
Every person’s teeth are a slightly different color, ranging from bright white to almost brown. Your dentist will be sure to match the color and shape of your implant to your other teeth so that everything looks as natural as possible. This is the aesthetic side of implants. Everything from the material the crown is made from to skill of the lab tech making the crown will affect how natural the final product appears, and well done implants are nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth.
A Word on Screw-Retained Crowns
Crowns are often fitted to the implant using a screw. This allows for easy maintenance in the future. The screw hole is then covered with a tooth-colored material. Some may choose to have front teeth cemented rather than screwed since the screw hole is more likely to be visible on a front tooth.
A Smile to Be Proud Of
In the end, the goal is to provide patients with a smile that they are happy to see in photographs. Dental implants are an excellent solution to replacing lost or missing teeth, they are absolutely the best option for both functionality and appearance.
