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Pre-treatment side view of #5 (upper right first premolar). It is not obvious, but the tooth has fractured. A vertical fracture through the tooth results in a hopeless prognosis (the tooth cannot be restored).
Peri-apical radiograph of same teeth as above. There is still not evidence of the fracture. This “fracture” diagnosis is made clinically. Meaning, when manipulating the tooth in the mouth we can see the two cusps moving apart and the patient feels pain.
Tooth #5 was extracted and an implant placed that same day.
In many cases (80% of the time) we are now able to make an immediate, fixed temporary on the implant. These temporaries cannot be in function (cannot touch other teeth) for 6-8 weeks, so the resulting temporary crown is slightly shorter than the future, definitive implant crown. A slightly shorter, non-removable temporary crown is far more comfortable than an interim, removable partial denture (flipper).
Side view, definitive (final) implant crown, teeth apart. Can you tell which one it is?
Side view, definitive (final) implant crown, teeth together. Can you tell which one it is?
Peri-apical radiograph of implant, abutment and final crown.
