Implant Crowns in Tampa: Finish Your Dental Implant With a Natural Look and Feel

You’ve done the hard work—planning, healing, staying patient. Now comes the part everyone sees: the implant crown. This is the custom-made tooth that attaches to your dental implant and completes your smile. When designed well, an implant crown blends so seamlessly that even a close friend won’t spot the difference.

What Is an Implant Crown?

An implant crown is the visible portion of your dental implant restoration—the part that looks like a tooth. It connects to the implant through a small piece called an abutment. Implant crowns are made from strong, lifelike materials (often ceramic or zirconia) and shaped to match your bite, shade, and gumline. Depending on your needs, your dentist may recommend:

• Screw-retained implant crowns: The crown is secured with a tiny screw through a hidden access hole that’s later sealed.
  
  
• Cement-retained implant crowns: The crown is cemented to the abutment, which is attached to the implant.
  
  

Both options look great; your choice depends on gumline esthetics, bite forces, and ease of maintenance.

The Implant Crown Process: From Scan to Smile

Here’s how your implant crown goes from concept to reality:

1. Impressions or digital scans: Your dentist captures the shape of your implant and gums.
   
   
2. Custom abutment selection: A stock or custom abutment is chosen to support your gumline and crown contours.
   
   
3. Shade and shape matching: Photos and shade guides help the lab craft a crown that blends with your neighboring teeth.
   
   
4. Try-in and bite check: Your crown is tested for fit and adjusted until it’s comfortable and precise.
   
   
5. Final placement: The crown is secured, and your bite is checked under normal chewing forces.
   
   

Some patients receive a temporary crown during healing; others go straight to the final once the implant is fully integrated.

Why Implant Crowns Look So Real

It’s all in the details—translucency, texture, and proportion. Modern ceramics mimic the way light passes through enamel, and careful contouring shapes the gumline to look natural. Small additions like surface texture and stain give life to the crown so it doesn’t appear flat or “too perfect.” If your front tooth is being restored, you’ll likely review high-resolution photos together before final cementation.

Screw-Retained vs. Cement-Retained: Which Is Better?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer:

• Screw-retained implant crowns allow easy removal for maintenance and avoid excess cement near the gums—often a plus for implants in areas with delicate tissue.
  
  
• Cement-retained implant crowns can hide access holes and are useful when angulation or esthetics make screw channels tricky.
  
  

Your dentist will explain the pros and cons in your specific case, including how your bite and smile line affect the choice.

Implant Crown Materials: Strength Meets Beauty

Common materials include high-strength monolithic zirconia (great for back teeth and grinders), layered porcelain over zirconia (excellent esthetics for front teeth), and hybrid options. Each choice balances beauty, durability, and opposing tooth wear. If you clench at night, a protective nightguard may be recommended to keep everything pristine.

Caring for Your Implant Crown

Good news: maintenance is simple.

• Brush twice daily with a soft brush and non-abrasive toothpaste.
  
  
• Floss around the implant crown daily; consider floss threaders or interdental brushes for easier access.
  
  
• Schedule regular cleanings—implant-safe instruments help protect the crown and tissues.
  
  
• If you feel a new “tap” when you bite or notice a chip, call promptly. Tiny adjustments keep forces balanced and extend longevity.
  
  

What If the Gumline Looks Flat?

Shaping the gumline is part art, part science. Contoured healing abutments, temporary crowns, and soft tissue grafts can all nudge the tissue into a more natural curve. These steps are common for front teeth where symmetry with the opposite tooth matters. Your dentist will map out which steps—if any—will create the most natural frame for your implant crown.

Benefits of Implant Crowns (Supported by Professional Guidance)

Implant crowns are the finishing touch that delivers the everyday benefits research keeps highlighting:

• Natural chewing and speech: Because the crown is anchored to an implant, it feels secure and predictable—benefits consistently noted in implant outcomes research and prosthodontic guidelines.
  
  
• Bone and bite stability: Completing your implant with a well-fitting crown transmits forces that help maintain bone and keep neighboring teeth from drifting.
  
  
• Long-term durability: With routine care, implant crowns offer excellent longevity, and repairs—when needed—are targeted and efficient.
  
  

If you’re the curious type, ask for patient-ready summaries based on guidance from the American College of Prosthodontists and implant specialty groups.

Common Questions About Implant Crowns

• How long will my implant crown last? Many patients enjoy their crowns for 10–15 years or longer. Materials continue to improve, and good care makes a difference.
  
  
• Can an implant crown stain? Ceramic resists staining well. Routine cleanings and smart habits (hello, water after coffee) keep the shine.
  
  
• What if a screw loosens? It’s rare, but easy to fix during a quick visit. Screw-retained designs make this especially simple.
  
  
• Will I feel the difference from a natural tooth? After a short adjustment period, most people say it feels completely natural.
  
  

Tampa-Specific Tips: Keep Your Crown Looking Its Best

Sunshine, sports, and great food—Tampa keeps you moving. Hydrate well, especially in the heat, to keep tissues healthy around your implant crown. If you’re active in contact sports, ask about a custom mouthguard to protect both natural teeth and your implant crown.

Cost, Timing, and Smile Goals

You’ll review fees and options up front, including whether a custom abutment, extra esthetic layering, or whitening your other teeth before shade-matching makes sense. Many patients choose to brighten their smile first so the new crown matches a fresher color.

Pro Tips for Front-Tooth Esthetics

Front teeth get the spotlight, so details matter. Ask about a custom shade session in natural light, and bring an old photo showing your natural tooth translucency. If you’ve had gum recession, a slightly longer crown might look “too new”—your dentist can shape contours to blend gracefully with your current smile. Tiny surface textures—vertical striations near the gum and subtle luster at the edge—help an implant crown mimic nature.

Troubleshooting: When Something Feels Off

Listen to your instincts. If food packs beside the implant crown, if floss snags, or if you notice a clicking sound while chewing, schedule a quick check. Small bite adjustments, a contact reshaping, or a new flossing tool often solve the issue on the spot. Early tweaks protect the gum seal and keep the bone happy for the long haul.

The Finish Line—And a Fresh Start

An implant crown is more than a cap on a post; it’s the part you live with every day, from your morning bagel to your next big presentation. It needs to look right, feel right, and hold up when life gets busy. When it’s designed and placed with care, it disappears into your smile and reappears only as confidence.

Ready to complete your dental implant with an implant crown that looks and feels natural? Call Best Value Dentures & Implants at 813-358-1225 or visit 5420 Webb Rd a2, Tampa, FL 33615. Schedule a consultation and take the final step to a strong, beautiful smile.