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Losing a tooth can be emotionally taxing and incredibly discouraging. It affects how you eat, speak, and most of all how confident you feel when you smile. Fortunately, today’s advanced dental technology and techniques mean you don’t need to live with a gap in your grin!
A dental implant topped with a custom porcelain crown can give you back a complete, natural-looking smile that feels just like your own. At Dental Specialty Associates of Arizona, we’re proud to provide affordable dental implants in Phoenix and Gilbert. We provide everything you need under one roof, from comfortable implant surgery to custom crowns that blend seamlessly with your smile.
However, implants aren’t the only way to replace a missing tooth. So how do they compare to other options? Do they really look more natural? Let’s take a look at why a dental implant is now the gold standard for natural-looking tooth replacement!
1. A Dental Implant Mimics the Structure of a Natural Tooth
A dental implant doesn’t just fill the gap left by a missing tooth. It replaces the tooth from root to crown. The titanium post is surgically placed in the jawbone, where it fuses with the bone and acts like a natural tooth root. On top of that post, we attach a custom-made porcelain crown that looks, feels, and functions like the original tooth.
Compare this to a traditional dental bridge, which relies on shaving down the healthy teeth on either side of the gap to support the false tooth in between. While bridges can be an excellent option for replacing missing teeth, they don’t perfectly replicate the look of a natural tooth.
That’s because the false tooth in a bridge sits above the gums, so there is a small gap between the tooth and the gum tissue. While we can create bridges that look great, a dental implant typically looks more realistic because its structure is more like a regular tooth.
2. Porcelain Crowns Mimic Natural Enamel
Not all dental crowns are created equal. Porcelain is widely recognized as the most aesthetic material for dental restorations because of the way it reflects light just like natural tooth enamel. Modern ceramics have improved on traditional porcelain by improving its translucency and providing lasting shine and durability. It also resists staining much better than composite materials or resin-based crowns, and is recognized as one of the best materials for dental implants.
Some crowns, like those made of metal or porcelain-fused-to-metal, can look dull or develop a dark line near the gumline over time. That’s not a concern with full porcelain crowns. Our prosthodontist crafts each one to match the exact color, shape, and contour of your natural teeth so that your new crown blends in seamlessly. Whether you’re smiling, talking, or eating, no one will be able to tell which tooth was replaced.
3. An Implant and Custom Crown Protects Neighboring Teeth
When a tooth goes missing, the neighboring teeth tend to shift into the open space. This can cause misalignment, bite problems, and even additional tooth loss. Replacing the missing tooth with a dental implant keeps the surrounding teeth in their proper position and helps maintain a balanced bite.
Because an implant doesn’t rely on the adjacent teeth for support, unlike a traditional bridge, it leaves your natural teeth untouched and strong. That’s a huge benefit for your long-term oral health and the beauty of your smile. A single porcelain crown on an implant can help preserve your entire smile, not just the one missing tooth.
4. Implants Preserve the Jawbone and Facial Structure
One of the most important but often overlooked benefits of a dental implant is its ability to preserve the jawbone. When a natural tooth is lost, the bone that once supported it begins to deteriorate over time due to lack of stimulation.
This process, called bone resorption, can eventually lead to changes in your facial shape, creating a sunken appearance around the mouth and jawline. This can make you look older than your years, and even lead to further oral health issues as it can compromise the healthy support of neighboring teeth and create strain on the jaw joints.
Because the implant post acts like a tooth root, it helps stimulate the bone and keep it strong and healthy. This is something no denture or bridge can do. By choosing a dental implant topped with a porcelain crown, you’re not just restoring your smile. You’re also protecting the structure of your face for years to come.
5. It’s a Durable Solution That Can Last a Lifetime
Dental implants are designed to last. With proper care, the titanium post can remain in place for a lifetime, and the porcelain crown can provide over a decade (and frequently several decades) of reliable function and beautiful aesthetics.
Compare that to a traditional dental bridge, which typically only lasts five to fifteen years on average before it needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, replacing a bridge makes it necessary to do more work on the supporting teeth, which can compromise their health and eventually put you at risk for further tooth loss.
While the porcelain implant crown typically wears out long before the supporting post, replacing it won’t affect your natural teeth. This decreases strain on your smile while saving you time, stress, and money in the long run. A porcelain crown on an implant lets you chew comfortably, speak clearly, and smile with confidence day after day, year after year.
Ready to Rebuild Your Complete Smile? We Can Help!
At Dental Specialty Associates, we make it as simple and stress-free as possible to get affordable dental implants in Arizona. Every stage of your dental implant care, from your first consultation to the final crown placement, is done right here in the comfort of your regular dental office. That means you won’t ned to visit multiple specialists or coordinate between different practices to restore your smile.
Our expert team includes an experienced surgeon as well as an exceptional prosthodontist who work together to create dental implants that look and feel completely natural. With our advanced training in aesthetics, they’ll craft a porcelain crown that blends seamlessly with its neighbors and complements your facial features and smile.
If you’re ready to restore your confidence and comfort with the gold standard in tooth replacement, we’re here to help! We’ll walk you through your options, answer all your questions, and develop a customized plan just for you. Get in touch with our team to schedule your consultation for dental implants in Phoenix or Gilbert today!
