Southlake Implant-Retained Dental Crowns & Bridges
The Building Blocks of Your New Smile
Dental implants are now considered state-of-the-art when it comes to the restoration of missing teeth. With them, Dr. J. Lee Pettigrew can replace only the tooth or teeth missing without altering or placing additional stress on the remaining teeth. They are highly esthetic, impervious to decay, and they even support the jawbone wherever they are placed. With the help of implant-retained crowns and bridges, dental implants can be used to replace everything from a single tooth to a row of missing teeth.
Implant-Retained Crowns
In the case of a single missing tooth, a dental implant can be restored using a crown. Once the implant post has been placed, the bone naturally attaches to the implant, locking it to the jaw securely. Generally, the bone takes about 8-12 weeks to grow around the implant.
After the implant has fused to the bone, the crown itself can be fabricated. It will attach to the implant using a post called an abutment, which is threaded into the implant. The abutment looks very similar to a natural tooth once it has been shaped to receive the crown. When the crown has been finally placed, it will blend with the neighboring teeth both esthetically and functionally.
Implant-Retained Bridges
When a segment of teeth is missing, an implant-retained bridge is a superior alternative to a traditional removable appliance.
Commonly, if 2-3 teeth are missing, 2 implants can be used as anchors to support a row of prosthetic teeth. Once the teeth have been made, they will be cemented to the anchors so that the prosthesis is secure and does not move. Special care will be taken in the construction of the bridge so that it will mimic the natural adjacent teeth and blend in seamlessly with a patient’s smile.
Would you like to know more about these treatments? Think dental implants could be exactly what your smile needs? We can answer any questions you might have, so be sure to contact our office today.