If you’ve ever seen a picture of dental implants, you may have wondered, “Can you see the implants in my mouth whenever I smile?” or “Are the implants visible?” The short answer is “no.” But there are occasional exceptions to the rule. Let’s dig in a bit deeper to understand what your new smile will look like once you invest in dental implant treatment at ARCHPOINT.

Non Visible Implants are Hidden Below Your Gum Tissue

Dental implants are special restorations made to act like artificial tooth roots. Just like a real tooth root, your implants are placed into the jawbone and completely covered by bone and soft gum tissue (gingiva.) That being said, there will be a small abutment extending out the top of your implant, which is meant to support a replacement tooth or bridge. The implants and abutment are made of titanium, which is biocompatible and fuses with the jawbone over time, creating a stable and long-lasting foundation for the replacement teeth.

During your implant surgery, the entire implant is placed below the gum tissue, and a healing abutment is attached to the top of the implant. The gum tissue is then closed over the implant, and it is left to heal for a few months. During this time, the implant fuses with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. At that point, you won’t be able to see the dental implants at all.

Once the implant has fused with the jawbone and is fully integrated, we create an extremely small opening at the top of the implant to insert your abutment. That’s when a dental crown or bridge is attached to the top of the implant structure.

The Top of Each Implant is Covered, So it’s Not Visible

You don’t normally see the roots of healthy teeth whenever you smile. The same goes for dental implants. The dental crown or bridge that is attached to the top of your implant is designed to look and function like a natural tooth from the gums up. Each unique crown or bridge is custom-made to match the size, shape, and color of your anatomical teeth, ensuring your smile looks natural and seamless.

Since every dental crown or bridge is designed to cover the top of the implant completely, no part of the implant is visible. This means that when you smile, all that anyone will see is the natural-looking replacement tooth or teeth above the gingiva.

If You Have Thin or Receding Gums Implants Could be Visible

While dental implants are designed to be hidden below the gum tissue, in some cases, shadowing may be visible, particularly if you have thin or receding gums. Shadowing is a dark area that can appear around the area where your implant is installed. Or if the gums recede, it can expose the implant directly.

At ARCHPOINT Implant Dentistry, we offer several solutions to address such issues. If you have thin or receding gums, we can provide a gum graft to thicken the gingival tissue and cover the implant completely, leaving no visible shadowing.

We also offer ceramic dental implants, which are white in color and mirror the shade of your natural teeth. Ceramic implants are an excellent option for patients who want a completely natural-looking smile and have concerns about visible shadowing or possible gum recession.

Another way we prevent visible dental implants is to adjust the way your implants are installed. At ARCHPOINT we use 3D imaging to pinpoint the exact location and angle of the implant placement in your jaw before the surgery. This ensures you have adequate tissue coverage around the entire implant. As long as you keep the area healthy and look after your implant as directed, you usually won’t have to worry about seeing your implant whenever you smile.

We Design How Your New Smile Looks in Advance

At ARCHPOINT Implant Dentistry, we understand that every patient’s smile is unique. That’s why we use state-of-the-art technology to design how your new smile will look before any work is done.

For beginners, our implant specialists will use digital imaging and 3D models to create a personalized treatment plan that takes into account your facial structure, gum line, and natural teeth. This ensures that your new smile looks natural and complements your overall appearance. We also design the exact shape, width, contour, and color of every tooth that’s being restored; that includes their proximity to your gum tissue. Depending on the complexity of your case, our specialists may even create what’s called a “wax up” or “try in” that allows you to preview the proposed design before the permanent version is made at our lab. We want you to be completely thrilled with the aesthetics, function, and feel of your new smile.

About Author