The patient came to us with a failing dental implant as well as several teeth with old fillings and bad dental crowns. We redid her implant and restored her smile with veneers and crowns. When all teeth are lost in an arch, dental implants may be topped with a special abutment that allows them to support a fixed prosthesis.
The replacement is nearly indistinguishable with the other teeth. When more than one tooth needs to be replaced, implants can be placed at multiple sites or be used to support a dental bridge. This patient was born without two of her front teeth. Her previous dentist handled the surgical implant placement, but she needed the work finished.
Although the whole unit is usually referred to as a “dental implant,” the implant itself is what’s surgically placed. It fuses to your jawbone and serves as the root. Above that is an abutment, which connects the “root” to the implant crown or denture (often called a prosthesis ).