When you lose a tooth, your tongue tends to find the empty space right away. After that, it may keep drifting back to the same spot. The gap can feel much bigger than it actually is, simply because your mouth is so used to having a tooth there. A dental implant crown can make that space feel normal again. The implant post goes into the jawbone and takes the place of the missing root, while the crown on top replaces the tooth you see and chew with. Once it’s in place, you’ll spend a lot less time thinking about the gap and a lot more time just using your teeth normally.
What Is a Dental Implant Crown? What Does It Do?
A dental implant looks a bit like a metal screw with a peg at the top. The threaded lower section is placed into the jawbone beneath the gums, while the small peg at the top sticks up just enough to support the crown. The crown is designed to match the color and shape of your natural teeth so it blends in with your smile.
Once we fit your custom crown over the implant, the metal stays hidden, and all you see is the new tooth.
What makes a dental implant different from a bridge or partial denture is that it restores both parts of a missing tooth: the visible crown above the gums and the support your jaw needs below.
Maintains Jaw Health
Astronauts who spend long stretches aboard the International Space Station return to Earth with less bone than they had before. In the hips and spine, bone density can drop by about 1 to 1.5% for every month spent in space. This happens because, without gravity putting regular pressure on the skeleton, the body no longer gets the same signal to maintain that bone.
Something similar happens in your jaw. Every time you bite or chew, the roots of your teeth transfer force into the jawbone. That stimulation tells your body the bone is still needed. Once a tooth is gone, that area no longer receives the same pressure, and the bone starts to shrink.
A dental implant helps restore that missing stimulation. We place a small implant post in your jawbone to replace the natural tooth root and transfer chewing forces into the bone. We then attach a custom dental crown on top, replacing the visible part of the missing tooth so you can smile and chew naturally.
Works Like a Natural Tooth
Once your crown is in place, it can handle the same everyday jobs as the tooth it replaced.
- It stands on its own. The crown attaches directly to the implant. With an implant and crown, the healthy teeth beside the missing tooth can stay untouched, unlike with a traditional bridge.
- It helps keep nearby teeth in place. If you don’t replace a missing tooth, the teeth next to the gap start to shift. The tooth above or below may also move toward the empty space. Filling the gap helps maintain your natural bite.
- You can chew on that side again. If you have been missing a tooth for a while, you may have gotten used to chewing on the other side without even realizing it. A crown gives you a stable surface for biting and chewing again.
- You care for it like a natural tooth. You brush and floss around the dental implant crown as part of your normal routine. While the crown and implant can’t get cavities, the surrounding gums still need regular care to stay healthy.
- We make it to fit your bite. We use a digital intraoral scanner to capture the shape of your teeth, so you don’t have to bite down on a tray of messy impression material. That scan generates a detailed model, which is used to create a crown that fits comfortably and works with your bite.
One-Piece Implants Make Single-Tooth Replacement Simpler
At Freedom Dental Implants, Dr. Ackerman uses one-piece dental implants, which are different from traditional implants in two main ways.
With a traditional two-piece implant, the implant and the small peg that holds the crown are separate. The implant is placed first and is often covered by the gums while it heals. After a few months, you return for another procedure to uncover the implant and attach the connector peg.
A one-piece implant combines those parts into a single post. Dr. Ackerman can place the implant in one visit and add a temporary crown right away, so you don’t have to leave with an open gap while your final crown is being made.
One-piece implants can also be slimmer than many traditional implants. If you have been missing a tooth for a while, the bone in that area may have shrunk too much to support a larger implant. A narrower one-piece implant, like a mini dental implant, can often still fit in the remaining bone. In many cases, that can reduce the need for bone grafting before treatment.
The Process
Your treatment at Freedom Dental Implants depends on a key question: is the tooth already gone, or does it still need to come out? Find the path that fits you below.
Your Tooth Is Already Missing
Visit 1: Free Consultation
You’ll meet with Dr. Ackerman, who will examine your mouth and take a 3D cone beam scan of your jaw. The scan shows how much bone you have and helps her plan the exact placement of your implant. Before you leave, you’ll have a full treatment plan with your total cost, and Lisa will review your payment and financing options with you.
Visit 2: Implant Placement
Dr. Ackerman numbs the area and places your one-piece implant. An advantage of a one-piece implant is that we can place a temporary crown the same day, so you’ll leave with your smile intact. We’ll also take a digital scan so the lab can begin making your final crown.
Visit 3: Final Crown Placement
After the implant has had time to heal and become stable in the bone (a few weeks), we remove the temporary crown and place your custom crown. Dr. Ackerman will check your bite and make sure the new tooth feels comfortable when you chew.
Your Tooth Needs To Be Extracted
Visit 1: Free Consultation
Your consultation includes the same exam, 3D scan, and treatment plan described above. Dr. Ackerman will only recommend removing a tooth if it can’t be saved.
Visit 2: Extraction
Dr. Ackerman gently extracts the tooth. If the area needs extra support, she can place a bone graft at the same visit to help rebuild the socket.
About 3 Months of Healing
Dr. Ackerman prefers to let the area heal for about three months so the implant has a stronger foundation. Even with this healing period, treatment is often shorter at our office because we use one-piece implants, which allow us to complete the process in fewer steps.
Visit 3: Implant Placement
Once the area has healed, Dr. Ackerman places the implant and attaches a temporary crown the same day.
Visit 4: Final Crown Placement
After the implant has had time to settle, we place your custom crown and adjust your bite so it feels comfortable.
Cost, Insurance, and Financing for a Dental Implant Crown
At Freedom Dental Implants, a single implant with a finished crown costs $2,500. That includes both the implant and your custom crown. Your consultation is free and includes a 3D cone beam scan and a full treatment plan.
If you already have a treatment plan from another office, bring it to your consultation. We’ll review it and see how we can match or beat the price for the same treatment.
When it comes to insurance, Freedom Dental Implants is out of network with all dental insurance plans. This means Dr. Ackerman can recommend treatment based on what your mouth needs, not what an insurance plan dictates. Lis will also handle the claim paperwork on your behalf. If your plan provides reimbursement, the payment is sent directly to you.
If you would rather spread out the cost of your treatment, financing is available through Cherry and Happen Bank, and we also accept CareCredit. You can apply online before your visit, or Lisa can walk you through your options during your consultation or by phone.
Between clear pricing, insurance support, and flexible financing, we want you to feel informed and comfortable with the financial side of your treatment.
Find Out if a Dental Implant Crown Is Right for You
A missing tooth can affect how you smile, how you eat, and even how your mouth feels day to day. Replacing it with a dental implant crown helps protect your jawbone, keeps nearby teeth in place, restores comfortable chewing, and gives you a stable tooth that looks and feels natural. At Freedom Dental Implants, Dr. Ackerman uses one-piece implants to keep the process as simple and efficient as possible, with clear pricing and financing options available.
If you’re ready to stop noticing what is missing and start enjoying a complete smile again, schedule a free consultation to find out whether a dental implant crown is right for you.
