Can You Get Dental Implants And Crowns At The Same Time?

Can You Get Dental Implants And Crowns At The Same Time?

Jul 01, 2022

What Are Dental Implants?

They are small titanium metal posts that replace lost teeth in restorative dentistry. Dental implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss since they are erected in the jawbone under the gum tissue. In a sense, dental implants are specifically replacements for tooth roots.

What Are Dental Crowns?

They are tooth-shaped oral appliances that restore and repair enamels in restorative dentistry. Dental crowns in Jamaica Plain typically replace the entire outer tooth’s structure. A dentist near you would need to shave your natural tooth enamel to create room for a dental crown. The goal of a dental crown is to protect and support the remaining tooth structure, increasing its longevity.

Why Do You Need Dental Crowns After Getting Implants?

Dental crowns near you are not only useful after getting dental implants. They serve many other purposes in dentistry. Regarding implantation procedures, dental crowns cover the implant erected in the jawbone. After the initial procedure of replacing tooth roots with dental implants, a dentist near you will place a dental crown over it. The crown will act as a replacement for the external structure of a tooth, mimicking the natural tooth structure. It is the definite way of permanently replacing a single missing tooth with dental implants. However, dentists at Pondside Dental Associates will recommend a dental bridge or dentures over the underlying implants in cases of multiple teeth replacement.

What Does the Implantation Procedure Involve?

A typical process of getting dental implants involves the following steps:

  1. Sedation and numbing – will increase your comfort levels throughout the treatment. Since the procedure involves surgery, you need local anesthesia to experience a painless treatment. Sedation dentistry will help you stay calm and relaxed during different dental works.
  2. An incision on gums – the dentist will make a small cut on the gum tissue at the location of the missing tooth. This step is necessary for patients who have gone a long time without their natural teeth. If you get immediate dental implants, the dentist will not need to cut your gums since the socket will still be accessible.
  3. Drilling the jawbone – will create space for erecting the titanium metal post. The size of the hole will match the size of the dental implant.
  4. Placing and securing the implant – a dentist will place the metal post in the jawbone, then secure it with the gum tissue. The process will entail sewing the gum tissue to reinforce, stabilize, and properly position the tooth implant. In some cases, the dentist will place the implant’s abutment at this stage. In other cases, dentists prefer to complete the procedure in a separate dental visit.
  5. Crowning the implant – a dentist will place a dental crown over the tooth implant to complete the procedure. The dental crown should fit perfectly since it is usually tailored to the impressions of your mouth.

Must You Get Dental Crowns on A Different Day as Dental Implants?

The typical procedure of getting tooth implants dictates two separate dental visits. The first one will revolve around implantation surgery to erect the dental implant in the jawbone. After that, the dentist will have you go home for healing and recovery, which typically last about 3-4 months. Meanwhile, the dentist will place a temporary dental crown over the implant, protecting it until your mouth has healed. The temporary dental crown will help your mouth remain functional throughout the healing period. This type of dental crown is placed immediately after a dental implant procedure. However, for a permanent crown for your dental implant, you need a separate dental visit.

The second dental visit entails crowning the dental implant and completing your tooth replacement procedure. The reason dentists recommend waiting before placing a permanent dental crown is to ensure that osseointegration occurs. It is a process where the natural bone tissue in your jawbone integrates with the titanium metal, making the tooth implant one with your oral cavity. The process takes time and cannot be rushed. This way, you can ensure that your dental implant will not fail soon after its installation. Besides, only after a permanent dental crown is placed should you chew normally on the treated tooth. The rest of the time, you should avoid chewing on the side of the replaced tooth.

Call Now Book Appointment
Click to listen highlighted text!