Is the crown part of the implant?

No, the crown is a separate piece fitted onto the implant. The implant is the titanium post in the bone that acts as an artificial tooth root, and the crown is the tooth on top that you can see. People often use the word implant for the whole assembly, but the implant proper is the part nobody sees.

Will it match my other teeth?

Yes, the crown is custom-made to match the surrounding teeth in shape and color, so it reads as one of them. It is designed from digital impressions captured with a scanner, which is what gives the precise fit. The shade, the shape and the way the crown meets the gum are decided in the same office that places the implant.

Why not just have a bridge?

A bridge requires crowning the healthy teeth on either side of the gap, while an implant crown stands on its own. With a traditional bridge, two teeth are crowned to replace one. Where the neighboring teeth are sound, leaving them untouched is the strongest argument for the implant route.

What if several teeth are missing?

Several implants can each carry their own crown, or a smaller number of implants can support a bridge or a denture across a longer span. Which approach is appropriate depends on how many teeth are missing and on the bone underneath. A 3D scan is what shows how much bone is available.

Restorative Dentistry

Implant Retained Crowns in Los Angeles

The part of the implant you can actually see.

An implant is a titanium post in the jaw. The crown is what makes it a tooth. Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry makes both parts here, so the fit and the shade are decided together rather than by two offices.

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Illustration of implant-retained crowns on abutments in the lower jaw

A technician designing a restoration on screen beside a milling unit

Two parts

Where the crown fits in

Replacing a single missing tooth with an implant is two things joined together: the post placed in the bone, and the crown fitted onto it. People tend to use the word implant for the whole assembly, but the implant proper is the part nobody ever sees — the crown is what makes it a tooth. Completing an implant is one of the standard reasons a crown gets made, and it is the stage at which months of planning becomes something visible. Doing both parts in the same office matters more than it sounds: the shade, the shape and the way the crown meets the gum are decided against the tooth in front of us, not passed between two practices working from notes.

The implant

A titanium post that acts as an artificial tooth root, anchored in the jaw. See dental implants.
The crown

Custom-made and matched to the surrounding teeth in shape and color, so it reads as one of them.
Digital impressions

Captured with a scanner rather than a tray, which is what gives the precise fit.

Against a bridge

Why a crown on an implant, rather than a bridge

An implant retained crown does not require altering the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. A traditional bridge does — two teeth are crowned to replace one. Where the neighbors are sound, that is the strongest argument for the implant route.

Where more than one tooth is missing

Several implants can each carry their own crown, or a smaller number can support a bridge or a denture across a longer span. Which is appropriate depends on how many teeth are gone and on the bone underneath, which is what the 3D scan is for.

A patient standing with Dr. Kourosh Yousefzadeh after treatment

The short answer

An implant retained crown is the visible replacement tooth fitted onto a dental implant, the titanium post that acts as an artificial tooth root in the jaw. The crown is custom-made from digital impressions and matched to the surrounding teeth in shape and color, and it attaches to the implant to restore chewing and appearance. It completes a single tooth replacement, and unlike a traditional bridge it does not require altering the healthy teeth on either side of the gap.

Implant Retained Crowns FAQ

Is the crown part of the implant?: No, the crown is a separate piece fitted onto the implant. The implant is the titanium post in the bone that acts as an artificial tooth root, and the crown is the tooth on top that you can see. People often use the word implant for the whole assembly, but the implant proper is the part nobody sees.
Will it match my other teeth?: Yes, the crown is custom-made to match the surrounding teeth in shape and color, so it reads as one of them. It is designed from digital impressions captured with a scanner, which is what gives the precise fit. The shade, the shape and the way the crown meets the gum are decided in the same office that places the implant.
Why not just have a bridge?: A bridge requires crowning the healthy teeth on either side of the gap, while an implant crown stands on its own. With a traditional bridge, two teeth are crowned to replace one. Where the neighboring teeth are sound, leaving them untouched is the strongest argument for the implant route.
What if several teeth are missing?: Several implants can each carry their own crown, or a smaller number of implants can support a bridge or a denture across a longer span. Which approach is appropriate depends on how many teeth are missing and on the bone underneath. A 3D scan is what shows how much bone is available.