Implant Restoration & Care

Restoring a Dental Implant

Placing an implant is only the first half of the treatment. Restoration is what goes on top: an abutment is connected to the integrated implant, and a crown, bridge or denture is attached to it. That restoration is what you see, what you bite with, and what determines how natural the finished tooth looks.

Replacing or Repairing an Existing Restoration

Implants themselves are designed to last for decades, but the restoration on top is a component with a service life. Crowns wear, chip or loosen, and screws occasionally need retightening. In most cases the restoration can be replaced or repaired without disturbing the implant underneath — which is why a loose or damaged implant crown is worth having looked at promptly rather than left.

Caring for Implants

Implants do not decay, but the gum and bone around them can become inflamed — peri-implantitis — and that is the main reason implants are lost. Daily brushing and cleaning between and under the restoration, plus regular professional checks with periodic X-rays of the bone level, is what keeps an implant healthy long-term.