My four upper front teeth are missing, and I have a partial denture and a dental bridge to replace them. My dentist wants to replace the teeth with four dental implants, plus put crowns on each tooth immediately behind the dental implants. He says that I’ll get a better match with crowns.
I have a gummy smile, and the dental bridge looks like it’s sitting on my gums. I don’t want that same look with my dental implants or the teeth immediately behind them. I’m concerned about the crowns my dentist will use and whether metal from the implant posts will show through. Also, I don’t want porcelain on metal crowns for my natural teeth. I don’t know what type of crowns to ask for, so what is your advice on the best dental implant crowns to ask my dentist for to ensure my smile looks like I never lost my four front teeth? Thanks so much. Salome from GA
Salome,
Several things about your dentist’s recommendations concern us.
- Placing crowns on teeth adjacent to the dental implants: If your dentist wants to place crowns on your canine teeth for aesthetics, that implies that he doesn’t know how to place porcelain veneers. Veneers are the treatment of choice if they are needed at all.
- Not recommending teeth whitening and gum buildup: A skilled cosmetic dentist would recommend both procedures to harmonize your natural teeth and dental implant crowns.
Rather than asking your dentist for a specific crown type for your dental implants or natural teeth, finding an expert cosmetic dentist who understands how to conceal the borderline between a dental implant and its crown while maintaining the translucency of a natural tooth is essential. You won’t get these results from attempting to coach a non-artistic dentist.
Artistic cosmetic dentists are conscious about the appearance of your lip line and gumline, and ensure dental restorations blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. It takes years of education, training, and experience for a dentist to achieve a highly aesthetic, natural smile for a patient.
It’s disastrous to tell a dentist what materials and techniques to use. We recommend consulting one or two advanced cosmetic dentists because if appearance is your priority, only an artistic dentist can accomplish what you want. Look for cosmetic dentists accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry or the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry.
Brian LeSage, DDS, an accredited fellow of cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, sponsors this post.
Dr. LeSage restored this patient’s missing tooth with a dental implant crown