Dental Implants Crowns
Developed in Sweden in the early 1960’s modern dental implants became common in the 1990s, and today they are considered an optimal treatment option for replacing teeth that are deteriorating or missing. There are other implant options, depending on how many teeth need to be replaced, but often a single dental implant with crown is the best treatment for a single tooth.
In this treatment, after the tooth extraction, gum tissue is pushed away and space is created for an implant. A dental implant fuses with bone in the jaw through a process called osseointegration, and a stable foundation is created for a crown that has been customized.
The final step in a dental implant procedure is the placement of the dental crown. This placement happens after an abutment is placed onto an implant and proper time has been allowed for the jawbone to strengthen and for the gums to heal around an initial temporary crown, which usually takes about 4-6 weeks. While the temporary crown is being used for the initial healing process, the permanent dental crown is made by a dental lab. The lab technician uses an impression of the teeth to make a natural looking and customized artificial crown. This process involves several steps, which is why multiple appointments are needed for crown placement.
Choosing the Prosthetic Crown
There are several options when choosing a prosthetic crown. Dental experts and patients work together to decide between removable, or fixed prosthetics.
- Removable Prosthetic Crown: Just as with a removable denture, a removable crown can be partial or full. The crown is mounted to a metal fixture connected to the abutment, and is enclosed at the base by a gum-like plastic material. This kind of mechanism snaps together but can be removed for cleaning or repair.
- Fixed Prosthetic Crown: For fixed crowns, the prosthetic crown is permanently attached (bonded or screwed) to a single abutment. The new tooth is then not removable. Fixing a crown while it is fixed on its dental implant is common. And since implants are very strong, a single implant can support multiple teeth.
There are hybrid prosthetic crowns, as well and this option can be discussed further with a dental expert.
Placement of the Crown
Once the crown has been made by the dental lab it is checked for perfection by the dentist. Before cementing the crown into place, both fit and appearance are checked to make sure that the crown matches the existing natural teeth. Local anesthesia is used for numbing the general surrounding area. A cement is used for binding the crown to the tooth. In some cases the crown is attached with a screw. And if needed, minor adjustment to the crown’s shape can be made for ideal alignment with opposing teeth.
Once the crown is placed the result is a highly functional and natural looking prosthetic tooth. The placement procedure is generally considered straightforward and fairly simple. And, usually the placement procedure takes two separate appointments.