I’ve gotten a dental implant on a top tooth. My dentist put a temporary crown in to see if my gum would drop down. It hasn’t and the temporary looks to be obviously fake. I’m starting to regret getting this dental implant. I wanted a smile which looked natural. What can I do?
Penny
Dear Penny,
A healthy smile is attractive and brings confidence
When you pay to get a natural looking smile, you should get one. It was a good idea to do a temporary crown first to see if the gum will drop, though truthfully it may not.
I’d start by smiling your widest smile in the mirror. While some people’s gums show when they smile, other’s don’t. If your gums don’t show, there’s no reason to do anything further. It won’t affect the look of your smile. However, even if your gums don’t show, I would insist the temporary crown be made to look natural and match your other teeth.
Have your dentist get the temporary crown right before you get your permanent one. This way you know he can match it properly.
If your gums do show when you smile, you will want them even and symmetrical. If the one with the implant crown is too high, there is a fairly easy solution for this.
If Your Gums are Too High
Gum surgery is usually recommended if your gums are too high, especially if it is exposing the root. These days, you can have it done much more simply. The pinhole gum surgery technique actually can do it without any stitches at all. There are no incisions, the healing time is faster, and there’s no need for donor tissue.
Not many dentists are trained in this procedure yet. You may have to call around starting with periodontists, who invest more time in procedures related to the gums.
This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Implant Dentist Dr. David Pumphrey.