Tooth loss is more than just an inconvenience. It makes it difficult to smile confidently, eat properly, speak clearly, and can seriously impact your quality of life. If you have one or more missing teeth, implant-supported crowns provide a great solution to restore your smile. Implant-supported crowns provide unparalleled stability, allow for a more natural look, and encourage jawbone regeneration at the site of the missing tooth.
Benefits of Implant-supported Crowns
When you lose a tooth, your jawbone is no longer stimulated because the root has been detached. Over time, this can cause your jawbone to deteriorate and your teeth to lose support. They may begin to shift toward the open space, resulting in alignment issues and an increased risk for tooth decay. Traditional methods only replace the crown, but implant-supported crowns replace the root as well. By surgically placing an implant into the jawbone, it serves as a root to stimulate new bone growth and protects your remaining natural teeth.
Implant-supported crowns provide several benefits that are not possible with traditional crowns, such as:
- Can last for several decades
- Feels and functions like a real tooth
- Reduces risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and additional tooth loss
- Preserves jawbone density and encourages new bone growth
- Don’t rely on natural teeth for support
- More cost-effective than traditional crowns
The Implant-Supported Crown Procedure
When beginning dental implant surgery, the dentist will first numb your gums with local anesthesia. They will then make a small incision in your gums, place the implant, and close the incision with sutures.
After the implants fuse with the jawbone, the dentist will schedule a second surgery to expose the top of the implant. A collar is then placed over it, so the gum tissue can be guided for proper healing. Once the tissue is healed, the collar is removed and replaced with an abutment that will connect the implant to the crown. Next, impressions of the patient’s smile are taken and used to create a custom crown. If no alterations are necessary, the crown is secured, and the patient can leave with a confident smile.
The Importance of Consulting a Dentist Near You
Implant-supported crowns are an excellent solution for patients who are missing one or more permanent adult teeth. If you or someone you know could benefit from implant-supported crowns, contact your local Fountain Hills dentist at 480-210-9900 to learn more.