Understanding The Difference Between Regular And Dental Implant Crowns
Dental implants used to replace the teeth are made up of several different pieces. The main piece is the root. This is the part of the implant that most people are concerned about, since it must be actively secured in the jaw bone. However, the actual replacement tooth part of the implant is also important. This is the dental crown portion of the device. You may want to know how this crown is different from a normal dental crown. Keep reading to find out.
It Will Be Thicker
If you have a dental crown, then you know that the porcelain or metal device is cemented over a tooth that has been ground down significantly. Traditional dental crowns are a millimeter or two thick at their widest area. The thickness corresponds directly to the amount of tooth enamel that has been removed. The crowns are solid caps that are then cemented over the prepared tooth.
Since a traditional crown is cemented over your tooth, the porcelain does not need to be thick. In fact, thick porcelain would make the tooth too big. When it comes to your dental implant, only the thin and round abutment will sit up in your mouth. This metal piece is only about one-quarter of the size of your tooth or less. This means that the crown will need to be much bigger and thicker.
Thicker dental crowns mean more strength. This means that the artificial tooth probably will not need to be replaced like a traditional crown.
It May Have A Hole Through The Middle
Some dental implant teeth are constructed in a solid manner so the crown can be cemented directly over the abutment. However, some people will receive crowns with holes through the middle of them instead. The hole is used to screw the crown into the top of the implant root. The device is called a screw-retained implant where the abutment is inserted through the crown opening.
The screw device is one that is used in situations where the implant crown may need to be released in the future. For example, if the adjoining teeth need crowns or if a bridge may be needed at some point soon, then the crown can be released so the other restorations can be secured more easily. Also, sometimes the screw devices are added when a temporary or an immediate load device is added.
Also, screw-retained implants are ideal for the back teeth. Molar implant crowns are subjected to a great deal of stress and are more likely to crack than crowns towards the front of the mouth. Click here for more information.
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