Replacement of a single front tooth with an implant crown

Where a front tooth fails or is lost the condition of the adjacent front teeth will in part dictate what solution is most appropriate to replace it. Where one of both of the adjacent teeth are either un-restored or only have small fillings then providing a bridge as an alternative is inappropriate. The implant crown is then the treatment option of choice.

In this case the upper right central incisor was lost due to a failed root canal and root fracture. Of the two adjacent teeth one needed to be crowned (the left central incisor) whilst the other was un-restored. The patient chose the implant option. (images 1 & 2)

The implant is placed and most of the time a healing collar is attached to the implant at the same time, which the gum heals around. (images 3 & 4)

In this case the patient had a removable partial denture that she wore for appearance purposes during the treatment period.

At the end of the bone-healing period, an impression is taken that index where the implant is in relation to the teeth. This allows construction of a restorative abutment that the final crown is cemented to. (image 5)

The restorative abutment provides the base or intermediate component that the crown is cemented on to.

The finished result – two crowns, one on the implant and the other on the left central incisor. (images 6 & 7)