Fixed Teeth on Dental Implants

The duration depends on the complexity of the case. A crown or a veneer usually takes 2-3 appointments over 1-2 weeks. The first is for the preparation and the impression, and one or two more follow for the try-in and the cementation. Implant-supported work comes after osseointegration, that is, the period in which bone grows in direct contact with the implant surface. For this reason, the time from implant placement to the final restoration is usually between 4 and 9 months. If you need bone augmentation, which is carried out by collaborating surgeons, the treatment takes longer. Between the stages you usually wear a temporary solution, so that you are not left with a gap. At the initial consultation I give you a timeline suited to your case, so that you know from the start what to expect.

I use pressed ceramic and CAD/CAM-milled zirconia, two biocompatible materials that contain no metal. I also chose them because their shade can be matched to that of the natural teeth. Pressed ceramic lets light through in a way similar to enamel, which is why it is often used for the front teeth. Zirconia is more opaque, but it stands up better to the chewing forces at the back of the mouth. Which material we choose depends on the position of the tooth, the space available and the aesthetic goals we set together.

There is no fixed figure for how long a restoration lasts, and at the start of treatment I cannot promise you a particular number of years. It depends on your daily hygiene, on your occlusion (the way you bite) and on any parafunctional habits. One of these is bruxism, the grinding or clenching of the teeth, which places extra load on any restoration. The condition of the tissues that support the teeth (the periodontium) also matters, as does how regularly you come for check-ups. Zirconia crowns, pressed-ceramic veneers and an integrated implant are designed to last, but they still depend on maintenance and may, over time, need repair or replacement. At check-ups I examine the margins of the restoration, the occlusion and the surrounding gum, precisely so that I can intervene early, before a problem causes symptoms.

I design the restoration from a digital impression and a detailed treatment plan, so that it is precisely adapted to the way you bite and to your aesthetics. It is normal to need a few days to adjust. Your tongue explores the new shape, and you get used to it gradually as you return to your everyday meals and speech. If some discomfort remains, or there is a spot that bothers you when you bite, tell me. I assess it and adjust it at the follow-up appointment.

What matters most is brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush, cleaning the spaces between your teeth (with dental floss or interproximal brushes) and avoiding hard foods that can fracture the ceramic. Pay particular attention to the margin between the restoration and the gum, because that is where plaque settles most easily. For crowns on implants, a water flosser also helps you clean around the abutment, since the tissue around an implant becomes inflamed more easily than the tissue around a natural tooth. After every procedure I show you, on your own restoration, how to clean it, step by step.

I check the prosthetic work at every stage, from the choice of material to the final fit. After that, I recommend a maintenance check-up every 6-12 months, or more often depending on your risk, so that I can assess the restorations and your oral health as a whole. At such a check-up I look at the margins, the contact points with the neighbouring teeth, the way your bite closes and the condition of the surrounding gum. The professional cleaning then reaches the places your toothbrush misses. When the restoration is handed over to you, I take my time explaining how to look after it, and we go over it again if anything remains unclear.