There’s nothing quite as rewarding as watching a patient go from a hesitant, self-conscious smile to a confident, radiant one. As a dentist, I’ve placed countless implants, and each case brings its own set of challenges and learning experiences. Today, I want to share the story of one particularly memorable case—a single-tooth implant in the aesthetic zone—to give fellow clinicians insight into a smooth, efficient workflow from surgery to final restoration.
The Patient: A Common but Challenging Case
Our patient was a 45-year-old male, a long-time coffee drinker, who had fractured his upper right central incisor (#8) in an accident. The fracture was severe, extending subgingivally, making it non-restorable. His main concern?
👉 Aesthetics. He wanted a natural-looking replacement that matched his existing teeth perfectly.
We had two options:
1️⃣ A traditional bridge, requiring the preparation of adjacent teeth.
2️⃣ A single dental implant, preserving his natural dentition while providing a long-term solution.
