Implant Crown Restorations
What are dental implants?
Dental Implants are surgical-grade titanium screws that are surgically positioned into your jaw to serve as an artificial root. The bone in the area fuses to the implants as you heal from surgery, a process called osseointegration. Once you have fully healed, the implants essentially become "roots" that support your replacement teeth. Implants can be used to replace any number of missing teeth, from a single tooth to an entire arch. The number of implants required to support your missing teeth depends upon the number of teeth you are missing and the condition of your jawbone.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Implants offer several benefits. Not only do they restore the functions of your missing teeth, but they also restore the appearance of your smile. The ceramic crowns that are used to fill in the empty spaces mimic the properties of your natural teeth, including their color and light reflection. Since the Implants serve as a replacement root, they serve to maintain the height, shape, and health of your Jawbone. Dental implants are a proven long term, long lasting restoration for missing teeth. However, there is some maintenance required over their years of service, which are important to discuss with Dr. Nicholas Berns when determining the best teeth replacement options for your mouth.
Why should I replace my missing teeth?
There are several obvious benefits of tooth replacement. Replacing a missing or damaged tooth allows full function. With a full set of teeth you will have the ability to chew all the foods that you enjoy. Replacement with dental implants also allows for a more pleasing appearance as peoples eyes are naturally drawn to gaps in your smile.
There are significant risks of not replacing your teeth such as bone loss, shifting of your surrounding teeth and bone, increased wear and tear on your remaining teeth, and increased risk of gum and bone disease of your surrounding teeth.
The Importance of Replacing Damaged Implant Crowns
While ceramic crowns are fairly strong and can withstand most normal daily use, the material is not
indestructible. There are several reasons your implant crowns may be damaged:
• Facial trauma, which can be a result of an auto accident, a fall, or a sports-related injury.
• Bruxism. If you grind and clench your teeth, the additional pressure exerted on your replacement crowns can lead to micro-fractures that can eventually lead your crowns to crack or break.
• Biting down on something too hard or using your teeth as tools to open packaging.
Replacing damaged, loose, or broken crowns as soon as possible is important. Damaged crowns can cause several different issues such as sharp edges, loss of function, decreased appearance, and even damage to your supporting implant.
​
If you are interested a single missing tooth or several missing teeth then our Restorative Dental team can help! Contact Crossroads Family Dental at 219-865-4095 to schedule your consultation today.