Dr. Sara Davidson is ready to improve your smile!
Dr. Sara Davidson is ready to improve your smile!

Implant crowns

Are you getting a dental implant? After your oral surgeon places the implant, we’ll partner with them and with you to understand your specific needs, and then restore your smile with an abutment and crown.
 
If this is your first experience with oral surgery, we’ll gladly refer you to a trusted local oral surgeon.
WHAT TO EXPECT

Our work with you begins after an oral surgeon surgically places your implant into your jawbone, and after they ensure that your mouth has healed, and that your implant is integrating properly. This process typically takes several weeks to a few months. Once your oral surgeon gives the green light, you’ll begin the implant crown placement process here at Walnut Creek Dental Studio, which occurs over two visits.

 

Preparation Visit

 

During your first visit, we’ll take a 3D digital scan of your mouth and implant, and then share it with our expert lab partners. We’ll share your teeth coloring with the lab, which they’ll color match to give your crown a natural appearance. Nobody should notice that you have an implant!

 

We’ll custom-order two pieces for your mouth and implant:

  1. The crown itself, which is the visible part of the replacement tooth. Our expert lab partner will custom-design it to match your natural teeth in color, shape, and size
  2. The abutment, which is a connector piece that secures the crown (above the gum line) to your implant (below the gumline, in your bone)

 

Placement Visit

 

There are two main steps during your second visit:

  1. Attach the abutment to your implant — the abutment will then protrude above the gum line
  2. Attach the crown to the abutment — your mouth will look as good as new, and you’ll see only the crown (the “tooth”)

 

We’ll then work with you to ensure ideal fit, function, and aesthetics. Assuming everything looks and feels good, we’ll secure the implant and educate you on proper oral hygiene around an implant.

FAQ

Implants address a range of dental issues, including:

  • Missing teeth
  • Restore functionality
  • Preserve jawbone health
  • Prevent adjacent tooth shifting
  • Improve speech
  • Enhance aesthetics and boost confidence

Discomfort during the implant crown process is generally minimal. While the implant placement with an oral surgeon is a surgical procedure that involves drilling into bone, the implant crown placement is much less invasive, and at worst creates a pressured sensation when the abutment and crown are secured.

 

It’s important to communicate openly with your dentist ahead of time about any concerns or anxiety, as well as during the procedure if you experience pain or discomfort.

With proper care and maintenance, implant crowns can last 15 years or more. The exact duration depends on many factors, including:

  • Implant integration: success of the crown is directly influenced by the integration of the implant into the jawbone (osseointegration)
  • Oral hygiene: better hygiene (i.e., brushing, flossing, cleanings) leads to longer duration
  • Teeth grinding (bruxism): grinding and clenching teeth puts pressure on implant crowns, which shortens their lifespan
  • Diet and overall health: implant crowns last longer if you maintain good health, specifically if you avoid systemic conditions known to impact oral health (e.g., diabetes, certain autoimmune conditions). Smoking is associated with higher risk of implant failure
Need to be seen soon for a dental issue or concern? Schedule an appointment!