Mar
A dental implant is a metal post placed in your jaw that holds a lifelike tooth on top. In plain terms, an implant replaces a missing tooth root and a crown replaces the visible tooth. Below you’ll find clear descriptions (and room for photos) to answer the question “what does dental implant look like” and to explain how implants work in Maple Grove, MN. This will help you picture the visible parts and the hidden parts and know what to expect during treatment.
A finished dental implant looks very much like a natural tooth. What you usually see is a tooth-colored crown shaped to match the neighbors. Under the gum is an abutment that connects the crown to a metal implant screw. The crown’s color, shape, and size are planned so the implant blends with your other teeth and your smile looks natural.
The implant screw is usually titanium or zirconia and looks like a small screw or post. It is placed into the jawbone and sits below the gum line once healed. You won’t normally see this part after healing.
The abutment is a small connector piece that joins the implant screw to the crown. It may be metal or ceramic and sits at or just above the gum line. It’s not very visible once the final crown is placed.
The crown is the part you notice when asking “what does dental implant look like.” Crowns are typically made of ceramic and are color-matched to your teeth. The lab or dentist shapes the crown so it matches your bite and smile.
After placement, the jawbone fuses to the implant in a process called osseointegration. Over weeks to months the bone grows around the screw so it becomes stable like a natural tooth root. The gum heals around the abutment so the crown looks like a real tooth emerging from the gum. Good planning and healing time are key to the final look and function.
Your dentist will take a medical history and use CBCT 3D scans and models to plan the implant’s size and position. This planning helps the implant look right in your mouth.
Surgery places the implant screw. Healing may take several months for osseointegration. Once stable, the abutment and final restoration are attached. Each step affects the fit and appearance of the finished tooth.
Will it look like a natural tooth? Yes — with proper planning and a well-made crown most people can’t tell the difference. Will neighbors notice? Not usually; implants are made to match your teeth. Can implants stain? Ceramic crowns resist staining like natural teeth, but good oral care matters. How long until it feels normal? Many people feel comfortable within a few weeks to a few months after placement.
Dr. Richard Weimar has 30+ years of care and has placed 2,000+ implants. The practice uses CBCT, CEREC same-day crowns, and sedation options to plan and deliver predictable, natural-looking results while keeping patients comfortable.
Schedule a consult with imaging to answer “what does dental implant look like” for your mouth. Bring your medical history, photos of your smile, and a list of questions so the dentist can show you exactly what your implant will look like in Maple Grove, MN and outline the next steps.
Dr. Richard Weimar received his BA and DDS degrees from the University of Minnesota and opened his practice in 1984. He has provided exceptional dental care to Minnesota’s Maple Grove and Brooklyn Park communities for over 30 years.
He is a member of many professional associations, including the Academy of Osseointegration, International Congress of Oral Implantology, and American Society of Dental Anesthesiology.
Dr. Weimar is skilled and experienced in almost all areas of dentistry, including sedation dentistry, implants, one-visit crowns using CEREC technology, and veneers. He is a pioneer in introducing many new technologies in the state as he wanted to provide his patients a comfortable, pain-free, faster, and less expensive dental experience. He educates patients on all procedures so they can make informed decisions about their treatments. His mission is to create a dental office where patients can receive all treatments under one roof.