Should I Replace my Old Dental Implant? What Can I Replace It With? Why Doesn't my New Dental Work Match?

Almost all of the older implants were metal abutments and porcelain fused to metal crowns.  These metal implant components, by virtue of being metal, do not match the esthetics of natural teeth or all ceramic dental crowns.

Today, especially for front teeth done in the front of the mouth, dentists will place a tooth colored zirconia abutment into implants and then utilize all ceramic (non metal supported) crowns over the abutment.  This gives a much more natural match to the adjacent teeth, either natural teeth or teeth that have had porcelain veneers or all ceramic crowns.

This approach should much superior to what you have today.  The big question to ask your implant dentist is whether he can redo the old implant with these new non-metal components (zirconia abutments and all ceramic crowns).  Unfortunately, I don't have enough information about how your original implant was done to give you this answer.

It is exciting to learn that your implant has already lasted 35 years, which is a great testament to implant technology.  Today the success rate is extremely high and dental implants are changing the lives for the better for so many people who are missing teeth.

It is unlikely to be an implant I agree. You can verify that by asking your dentist to show you the xrays. Easy to tell. You can easily have that crown replaced provided all support and hygiene is intact. It sounds like you may only need the crown replaced. Best of luck going forward.

 

Marielaina Perrone DDS

Henderson Cosmetic Dentist

I agree with the other doctors.  It does not sound like you had an implant.  I would find a highly rated cosmetic dentist and get an opinion on how to fix you problem. You may only need the crown replaced.  Good luck