Implant Supported Crown for Natural Appearance

When teeth are missing, the bone that previously supported those teeth can deteriorate causing collapsed facial features and increased wrinkles around the mouth. The bone can, however, be preserved by replacing missing tooth roots with dental implants. Since the bone actually forms a strong bond to the implants, these implants essentially serve as a natural tooth root. These dental implants then provide support for the crowns which are usually made using a gold alloy framework for strength and an outer layer of ceramic which is tooth colored to create a natural appearance.

Among the key advantages of implant supported crowns is that adjacent teeth are not compromised to replace missing teeth. Consequently, dental implants restore an even bite for better chewing while maintaining the natural shape of your face. In effect, they replace one or a few missing teeth to restore a natural smile. They also avoid teeth in the opposite jaw from settling in an unnatural way often leading to an unattractive smile or jaw pain. Moreover, they reduce the rate of bone shrinkage that occurs when natural teeth are removed from your jaw. The bottom line is that implant supported crowns look, feel and function like natural teeth without the risk of falling out when eating, laughing or sneezing.

In addition to looking natural, an implant supported crown should feel completely comfortable when you slide your teeth from side to side or back to front as in chewing. The procedure normally requires two stages of surgery followed by crown placement. In the first stage, the implant is placed in the selected location of the jaw. Following a few months for the bone to solidly stabilize the implants, a second appointment is made to support the restoration followed by development of a temporary crown. A permanent crown is then fabricated and made to blend in with the natural appearance of surrounding teeth.