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Implant Crowns
Replacing a tooth on its own terms
An implant crown is the visible tooth fitted onto a dental implant, a titanium post placed in the jawbone that acts as an artificial root. The crown is what you see and chew with.
The advantage over a bridge is straightforward: it replaces one tooth without touching the ones either side. If those neighbouring teeth are healthy and have never been filled, that matters.
How it goes together
- The implant is placed in the bone where the tooth root was.
- Healing. Over several months the bone grows around and fuses to the post. This stage can't be rushed. It's what makes the implant stable.
- The abutment, a connector, is fitted to the implant.
- The crown is made and fitted, matched to your other teeth.
Why it takes months
People are often surprised by the timeline. The fusing of bone to the implant surface is a biological process with its own pace, and loading a crown onto an implant before that's complete is how implants fail. The wait is doing real work.
What makes someone a good candidate
Enough bone to hold the implant, healthy gums, and good oral hygiene. Smoking raises the failure rate substantially. Where bone has been lost after a tooth has been missing a long time, grafting may be needed first, which is one argument for not leaving a gap for years.
Looking after it
An implant crown can't decay, but the gum and bone around it absolutely can become inflamed and infected, a condition called peri-implantitis, and that's what loses implants. It's prevented the same way gum disease is: daily cleaning around the implant and regular professional checks.
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How long does the whole process take?
Usually several months from implant placement to final crown, because the bone needs time to fuse to the implant. The individual appointments are short; it's the healing in between that takes the time.
Is it painful?
The placement is done under local anaesthetic. Most patients report less discomfort afterwards than they expected, typically comparable to an extraction, managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
How long does an implant crown last?
Implants themselves frequently last decades when the surrounding gum and bone stay healthy. The crown on top may need replacing at some point, which is a much smaller job than replacing the implant.
Can an implant get a cavity?
No, the materials can't decay. But the gum and bone around it can become infected, and that's the main cause of implant failure. Cleaning around it daily is essential.
Am I too old for an implant?
Age itself isn't usually the barrier. Bone volume, gum health, smoking and some medical conditions matter far more. We'd assess rather than rule you out on age.
Implant crown or bridge?
An implant leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched, which is a genuine advantage if they're healthy. A bridge is faster, cheaper and avoids surgery. If the adjacent teeth already need crowns, the bridge argument gets much stronger.
A Replacement ToothThat Stays Put.
No denture, nothing to take out. We'll go through the stages, the timeline and the cost before anything starts.
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