Implant Esthetics: Managing Tissue and Color Without Surgery

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When a patient presents with an implant crown that looks “off,” the challenge is often more complex than it first appears. Small variations in tissue height, contour, or ceramic shade can dramatically affect symmetry and harmony in the smile—especially in the esthetic zone.

In this featured case, the implant itself was stable and well-positioned, but the surrounding tissue and crown color were not. My goal was to restore balance and natural esthetics without resorting to additional bone or soft tissue surgery.

What followed was a detailed collaboration between the clinical and laboratory teams—refining emergence profiles, adjusting contours, and troubleshooting design challenges through digital communication and careful observation. What seemed like a simple replacement became an in-depth exploration of how abutment design and restorative strategy can influence tissue behavior and color integration.

The process wasn’t linear. There were moments of trial and error, and key decisions along the way that ultimately changed the outcome. It’s those behind-the-scenes details that make this case a valuable learning experience for anyone restoring anterior implants.

Join the Case Continuum to Watch the Full 60-Minute Case Discussion

Watch Nelson Rego, CDT and me, as we break down the entire process—from initial presentation to final delivery—and share the technical decisions that led to a successful esthetic result.

In this session, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify and correct subtle contour and emergence profile discrepancies
  

• Communicate digital and shade information effectively with your lab
  

• Recognize when abutment redesign can achieve soft tissue improvement, without surgery
  

• Troubleshoot tissue response and manage esthetic complications over time
  

• Apply practical workflow strategies to elevate anterior implant outcomes

  
  

This case discussion is included in the Case Continuum

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