Dental Implant Restorations in Chattanooga, TN

Basically, there are three parts that you should know: an implant, an abutment, and a crown. This setup is used to replace a missing tooth or missing teeth. Let's break this down.

The implant is the part below the gums, down in the bone, acting like the root of your tooth.

The second part is the abutment. These two pieces fit together, and a screw inside holds them together. The abutment sticks out of the gums, acting like your tooth.

Then, you need something that looks and functions like a tooth, which is called a crown. This is very similar to a crown on a regular tooth.

We slide the crown over the abutment and use cement inside to bond it to the implant, so it stays in place, allowing you to smile, eat, and chew. Sometimes, we might use a screw to hold the crown onto the abutment. From a patient's perspective, there's not much difference, as there is no change in cost, looks, or function. Whether it's glued on or screwed on depends on spacing and the dentist's judgment.

The actual restoration on an implant for a single tooth is generally a crown. For multiple teeth, it might be a bridge or something similar to a denture. However, these are made from a different, stronger material and are more cosmetic. Because they attach to implants, we don't have to use the roof of your mouth, allowing us to be conservative with the size to avoid a bulky feel or gagging. These have better retention, staying in your mouth when eating hard, crunchy, squishy, or chewy foods. You won't have to worry about them falling out or causing embarrassment.

You can visit us, as there are a couple of reasons why an implant might become discolored over time. Sometimes, it's due to gums receding. If it's the crown material that has faded, we can usually leave the implant and abutment alone, taking off the crown and making a new, white one.

If you have one implant and have whitened your natural teeth, you might want to whiten before replacing the implant crown. Then, we can replace the implant crown to match the shade of your new white teeth. Our materials improve over time, so if your implant crown is older, it might not be as cosmetic as newer options. We can discuss upgrading the material for a more realistic appearance and a healthier smile.

Yes, it is possible. However, we must consider where your implant sits and its angle, as we need access for the screw. In the cosmetic region, we avoid visible screws, but in the back, using a screw-retained crown is more common. For a front tooth, it depends on alignment. When you visit us, we can discuss your desire for a screw-retained crown and assess if the alignment allows it.