How We Restored a Front Tooth with a Dental Implant — Start to Finish

In this video Dr Brayden details a cosmetic front tooth dental implant case start to finish.

When it comes to your smile, the front teeth do all the talking.

They’re what people notice first. So when a front tooth is missing or damaged — whether from trauma, decay, or failed restorations — it’s not just about replacing it. It’s about doing it perfectly in the smile.

In this case study, we’ll walk you through one of the more complicated — and rewarding — procedures we do at our practice: a front tooth dental implant. You’ll see how much thought, planning, and precision goes into restoring one small tooth… and why every step in the dental implant process matters.

Why Front Tooth Implants Are So Demanding

Unlike molars, where strength matters to a higher degree, replacing a front tooth is has much to do with aesthetics, symmetry, and subtlety, in addition to bite force management.

Here’s why it’s such a technical and artistic challenge:

• Any tiny mismatch is obvious. The color, shape, gumline — everything has to match the neighboring teeth.

• The bone and gum are thin. That makes it easier for collapse or shadowing to occur.

• We’re working in the “esthetic zone.” This area demands precise planning, sculpting, and soft tissue support. Thankfully all our doctors have advanced training in cosmetic dentistry.

Our Step-by-Step Process

1. Plan the End Smile result before Beginning.

   We always start by planning the end result! We can do this digitally. See here for more information on our digital smile design. We also need to take a step back and understand what is important for our patient, and what risks are present in the process. Patients may need a front tooth implant for different reasons, and we want to understand those reasons and plan accordingly. We may be dealing with gum disease, bite forces, and challenging esthetics. Knowing the risks beforehand, and pre-planning the smile design digitally allows a more predictable result in the end. This is the MOST IMPORTANT STEP!
   In our case study, we were managing bite forces and esthetics, which I detail in the video.
   This first step also helps make sure the patient is on the same page with what to expect a final result to look like. We also go over financial details and timeline. This way the patient knows what to expect every step of the way!

2. CBCT 3D Planning
   Before taking any teeth out or diving into implant placement, we start with a CBCT scan to evaluate the bone structure in 3D. This shows us the height, width, and quality of bone, and how close we are to adjacent roots or anatomical structures. Planning the exact implant location here prevents complications later.

3. Site Preparation & Grafting (if needed)
   If the facial (lip-side) bone is thin or damaged, we may use bone grafting or soft tissue grafts to build a strong foundation. Without this, implants can fail — or look unnatural as gums recede. Sometimes, as in our case study, this is done at the time of implant placement.

4. Implant Placement
   Often using a guided technique (with a 3D printed surgical guide), we place the implant with extreme precision. It must sit in a position that supports both the future crown and the surrounding gum tissue for a natural look. The exact location is already planned prior to surgery in our CBCT software.

5. Provisional Tooth (Temporary)
   In the front of the mouth, we never leave a visible gap. A temporary tooth (provisional) is placed to shape and support the gum tissue during healing. This sculpting phase is key for a beautiful final result. I didn’t go into detail on this in our video. There are various ways to do this while the implant heals though, including a removable partial denture, an essix retainer, or immediately loading the implant with a temporary crown.

6. Healing & Monitoring
   Over the next few weeks or months, we monitor soft tissue healing. Sometimes we adjust the temporary to guide gum shaping. Patience here pays off — rushing this stage can lead to esthetic failure. One of the biggest risks in front teeth implants is gum recession!

7. Final Crown
   Once everything is stable, we place the final custom crown. Shade, translucency, shape, and surface texture are all matched to your natural teeth so the implant blends in seamlessly.

Common Questions Patients Ask About Dental Implants

“Will I be left without a front tooth while it heals?”
No — we always provide a temporary restoration that looks natural during healing. In the case in the video, because he had just finished orthodontics, we used an essix retainer that replaced the missing tooth in his smile without putting stress on the implant. Importantly in this case, it also acted as an orthodontic retainer.

“How long does this take?”
Depending on the case and whether grafting is needed, expect several months from start to finish. We want to be patient to ensure optimal outcomes, and yet get the patient a permanent smiling tooth as quickly as possible.

“Will it hurt?”
The procedure is done under local anesthesia. We can always add oral sedation if the patient is anxious. Most patients report only mild soreness afterward.

“How natural will it look?”
If all the steps are followed carefully — especially tissue shaping and crown customization — it will be nearly impossible to tell it’s not your original tooth. Check out our video case study to see more.

5 Signs You’re in the Right Hands

If you’re considering a front tooth implant, here are signs your dentist is doing it right:

1. They use 3D imaging to plan implant position.

2. They talk about tissue grafting or at least soft tissue support.

3. They place a temporary tooth to guide healing.

4. They explain shade matching, gum contouring, and long-term esthetics.

5. They show you more than just before/after pictures — they walk you through the process and make sure all your questions are answered.

   1. BONUS: Way more detailed tips and tricks to know what you are paying for and to ensure the implant is high quality!

Final Thoughts

Replacing a front tooth with an implant isn’t just dental work — it’s dental artistry. Cosmetic dentistry is more than just placing an implant in your jawbone. And when it’s done right, the result is a smile that looks and feels completely natural.

If you’ve lost a front tooth — or are considering replacing a failing one — we’d be honored to guide you through your options. Let us know if we can help!