Implant-Supported Dental Crowns
in Rochester, NY
A Long-lasting Solution to Permanently Replace a Missing Tooth
What is an implant-supported crown?
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When a tooth is missing and the teeth next to it are healthy and in good form and shape, the missing tooth can be replaced with an implant-supported dental crown. The dental implant replaces the root of your tooth and a crown is then placed over the implant. This crown is the visible tooth over the gum. There are different ways of replacing a missing tooth, and an implant-supported crown is just one way of doing so. In recent years, implant crowns have become an extremely popular way of replacing a missing tooth.​
There are two types of implant-supported dental crowns: screw-retained and cement-retained. When choosing which type of implant crowns are best for your situation, several factors such as retrievability, location, esthetics, and preferences are considered.
To assist you in understanding which type of implant crown will serve you better, we have listed a brief description of both types with several advantages and disadvantages for each below. Both cement and screw-retained implant crowns require maintenance, such as professional hygiene, tightening the screws, or recementing of a crown.
What is the difference between a cement-retained and a screw-retained implant-supported dental crown?
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1. Cement-Retained Implant Crowns
A cement-retained implant crown is permanently affixed onto the implant abutment using dental cement. After the implant fuses with the jawbone, an abutment is placed, and then the custom-made crown is cemented onto this abutment, mimicking the look and function of a natural tooth.
Advantages: ​
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Excellent Esthetics – Cement-retained implant crowns do not show a screw access hole that is present with a screw-retained implant crown. This is why cement-retained implant crowns are often used for front teeth.​
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Straightens Angled Implants – The placement of a dental implant is dictated by the bone. At times, the only option is to place the implant at an angle. If you try to restore it following the angle of the implant, it will not be possible. One of the advantages of using a cement-retained implant crown is that the abutment that connects to the implant can be angled. This design enables the crown to be positioned more naturally, resulting in improved tooth alignment, enhanced aesthetics, and better hygiene.
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Disadvantages:
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Difficult Removal – Cement-retained implant crowns can be difficult to remove.​ If a connecting screw to the implant becomes loosened, which may happen, gaining access to the screw will be challenging, as it remains under the crown.
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Leftover Cement – Cleaning the gluing cement that connects the crown to the abutment is important for gum health. Clinicians put their best efforts to clean all the cement. However, dental literature has reported instances where parts of cement were left trapped under the gum. This may happen due to inability to either see it or clean deep under the gum. The situation may lead to different complications, such as gum inflammation, swelling, bleeding, and more.
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2. Screw-Retained Implant Crowns
A screw-retained implant crown is secured to a dental implant using a fixation screw which passes through the crown itself through a hidden access hole. Here, the crown and the abutment are fused together as one unit, and this unit is being screwed to the implant. This screw-based attachment ensures a precise fit and allows for easy removal during maintenance or repairs.
Advantages:
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Easy Removal – Can be easily removed to repair damage that may occur or if a more extensive tooth restoration is necessary. Also, at times, more implants are placed to prevent future tooth loss. We can use the original implant and the new implants to construct an implant-retained bridge. Having a screw-retained option allows easier access to the original implant during the steps of fabricating a bridge.
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Easier to Treat Gum Issues – Screw-retained implant crowns allow for easier treatment of gingival inflammation or peri-implantitis since the crown can be easily removed . This gives easy access to the surface that needs to be treated
Disadvantages:
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Compromised Esthetics – When using this method, the screw access hole can be visible. This is why they are often used to replace teeth in the back of the mouth.
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Difficult to Use with Angled Implants – The direction of the implant dictates the direction of crown placement. Screw retained design offer only one path of crown placement, which is the path of the implant itself. If this path is not ideal, screw retained option should be reconsidered.​​​
What are the benefits of an implant-supported dental crown?​
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An implant-supported crown offers many benefits like a natural appearance and feel, full chewing and speaking function, long-term durability, and prevention of bone loss by stimulating the jawbone through function.
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Looks and Functions LIke Natural Teeth – Implant-supported crowns have the appearance, feel, and functionality of natural teeth.
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Bone Loss Prevention – Implant crowns help prevent bone loss in the jaw, which can occur when a tooth is lost or extracted. An implant-supported dental crown prevents bone loss through the osseointegration process, which happens when the implant fuses with the jawbone and mimics the stimulation that a natural tooth root provides.
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Preserves Architecture and Position of Surrounding Teeth – An implant-supported dental crown preserves the architecture and position of your surrounding teeth and keeps them stable. When a tooth is missing, other teeth may start to shift to the created missing space. This can result in unesthetic look and unhealthy biting function. Tilted teeth can also create gum disease due to the unhygienic orientation of teeth after tooth movement occurs.
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Surrounding Teeth Maintain their Integrity – When you choose to have an implant-supported crown, other teeth remain untouched and intact. The most common alternative to an implant-supported crown is to have a conventional tooth-retained bridge which requires the neighboring teeth to be filed and thinned out to retain the bridge. With an implant crown, your other teeth are unaltered, thus keeping their integrity.
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Durable and Long-Lasting Solution for Missing Teeth – Implant crowns are a long-lasting solution. Of course, proper care and good oral hygiene are essential to prolonging the life of implant crowns after placement.
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Smile with More Confidence – An Implant-supported crown can give you a more attractive smile. When you have missing teeth, many patients are less likely to smile. An implant crown will provide you with a close-to-natural looking replacement for your missing tooth, allowing you to smile with confidence.
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If you are considering implant crowns in Rochester, NY, Dr. Isaac Kuyunov will perform a complete and careful examination of your jaw, teeth, mouth, and overall health to determine if dental implants are the best solution for your situation.
Who is a good candidate for an implant crown?
Although there are other effective tooth replacement options such as partial dentures, or a conventional dental bridge, many patients prefer implant-supported crowns due to the cosmetic, function, and oral health benefits they provide. Here are several scenarios that will help you decide if you are a good candidate for implant crowns:​
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You wish to replace missing teeth, which may have been lost or extracted for a variety of reasons. Implant crowns require the neighboring teeth to be healthy.
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If you have a broken, damaged, or severely decayed tooth, many dentists recommend removing the tooth in question and replacing it with an implant-supported dental crown, which is a more permanent solution.
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You are looking to improve the function of your teeth. Missing teeth can hinder chewing, thus limiting you from enjoying a wide variety of healthy foods.
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You have lost confidence when you smile, which is caused by having missing teeth.
If you are unsure whether you are a good candidate for an implant-supported dental crown, contact us and we will be happy to answer any of your questions. ​
Getting an Evaluation
During your evaluation visit, your goals and medical history, will be discussed. You will receive an examination and assessment of your oral and overall health to learn if your are a good candidate for an implant-supported dental crown. X-rays will be taken to ensure that you have enough jawbone to accept the dental implant. For more details on the dental implant process, visit our Dental Implant landing page.
Looking for implant-supported dental crowns in Rochester, NY?
Visit Dr. Isaac Kuyunov
If you are ready to learn more, Dental Prosthodontics of Rochester, NY, implant crown experts, can help you regain the confidence and function of the full smile you envision. To schedule a personalized, one-on-one consultation with Dr. Isaac Kuyunov, call us today at 585-471-5689 or email us by using our contact form link below to make that appointment!
