5 Steps to Replacing a Tooth in the Smile Zone

Have you lost a tooth that shows when you smile? This can have a devastating impact on your self-esteem. You are most likely looking for the best way to replace this tooth as aesthetically as possible. The good news is that dental implants are the preferred tooth replacement option, especially for teeth in the “smile zone”. This solution, as you can imagine, requires a lot of skill from the dentist to ensure this tooth looks completely natural alongside your existing front teeth. You’ll want to find a dentist experienced in dental implant treatment as well as one who takes and aesthetically-driven approach to your treatment.

Steps to replacing a tooth in the smile zone

1. Detailed Planning
   All dentists part of your treatment collaborate to create a detailed and personalized treatment plan. Both the functional and aesthetic components of treatment are evaluated. Since this dental implant will be visible when you smile, this planning is a crucial part of the treatment process. Be sure to find a team experienced in placing and restoring dental implants!
2. Site Preservation
   Another key component of smile zone dental implants is preserving or building up the soft tissue and bone at the treatment site. To ensure the proper level of support and aesthetics, gum grafting and bone grafting may be needed to restore lost tissues and jawbone.
3. Dental Implant Surgery
   Proper positioning of the dental implant during surgery is another critical part of the treatment process. How the dental implant post is angled and located in the bone greatly affects the position of the final dental crown and resulting aesthetics. Choosing a dentist with guided surgical technology ensures the dental implant is placed with the highest level of precision.
4. Gum Tissue Shaping
   As the dental implant post heals and fuses to your jawbone, the visible gum tissue will also need to heal. In many cases, the dentist will attach a temporary crown that will help assist the gum tissue in healing properly. This guidance is what helps the gum tissue around the final dental crown to be aligned and even along the gumline.
5. Final Restoration
   Finally, when the bone and soft tissue have fully healed, you’ll receive your final dental crown. This crown is fully customized to fit beautifully within the gum tissue and alongside the adjacent teeth. Once in place, it should look and feel completely natural. Now you can enjoy an attractive smile without any noticeable dental work!

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Ready to replace your missing tooth? Contact our team today to schedule a consultation with our dentist.