Implant Restorations: Establishing a Proper Emergence Profile.

The replacement of missing teeth is more complex than simply placing a dental implant and restoring it, especially when a single implant site is involved. Implants have a round cross-section, whereas natural teeth do not but instead have crestal cross-sections that vary in shape from ovoid to triangular to rectangular depending on which tooth is being replaced. When this factor is combined with the zone between the crestal bone and adjacent proximal contacts, an emergence profile presents that will govern the esthetics of the restoration. The emergence profile will also guide and maintain the soft tissue, preventing potential food accumulation areas interproximally. This article defines an emergence profile and reviews the importance of establishing it and how to develop it based on the tooth being replaced to achieve natural-appearing restorations.