A dental implant without its crown is a titanium fixture in your bone — the foundation is in place but the restoration is not. The prosthetic phase — placing the abutment and crown — is what transforms the implant into a functioning, visible tooth. It is also where aesthetics, material science, and precision come together.

Whether you had your implant placed elsewhere and need the crown completed, or you are planning the full process from the start, Dr. Habib Zarifeh's clinic in Beirut offers the complete prosthetic phase using CAD/CAM digital workflow — Sirona MCXL inLab and inOffice — for crowns and bridges milled to submillimeter precision from the highest quality ceramic blocks.

Types of Implant Crowns — Which Material Is Right for You?

Three main material categories are used for implant-supported crowns and bridges. Each has specific indications, advantages, and limitations. The right choice depends on the location of the implant, your bite forces, your aesthetic requirements, and the surrounding soft tissue.

• Zirconia (Metal-Free Ceramic) — Most Recommended for Aesthetics
  Zirconia crowns are the current standard for implant-supported restorations in the aesthetic zone and increasingly in the posterior region as well. Completely metal-free, they offer exceptional light transmission that mimics natural tooth enamel — no grey margin visible at the gum line, no metallic shadow beneath the gum. High-strength monolithic zirconia variants are now robust enough for posterior use, offering both aesthetics and durability. At our clinic, all zirconia crowns are designed and milled chairside using the Sirona MCXL CAD/CAM system.
• Gold-Ceramic (Oro-Ceramic) — Superior Biocompatibility
  Gold alloy fused to ceramic combines the biological advantages of gold — exceptional tissue compatibility, minimal corrosion, and gentle interaction with surrounding bone and gum — with the aesthetic surface of porcelain. For patients with known sensitivities to base metal alloys, or in complex cases where long-term tissue health around the implant is a priority, the gold-ceramic option remains a clinically sound and time-tested choice.
• Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM)
  The traditional workhorse of implant prosthetics, PFM crowns fuse ceramic to a metal substructure. They are strong and reliable, though the metal base can create a greyish margin at the gum line over time — particularly if gum recession occurs. PFM remains a cost-effective option for posterior cases where the aesthetic zone is not a primary concern.

Screw-Retained vs. Cement-Retained Crowns

Beyond the material, implant crowns are attached to the implant in one of two ways. Screw-retained crowns are secured directly through a small access hole in the crown — fully retrievable, with no cement residue risk in the sulcus. Cement-retained crowns are bonded to a separate abutment — slightly better aesthetics in some cases, but requiring careful cement management to prevent peri-implant tissue complications. Dr. Zarifeh selects the retention method based on implant angulation, aesthetic requirements, and the specific implant system used.

CAD/CAM Digital Workflow — Why It Matters

Conventional implant crowns are made from physical impressions taken with trays and putty, sent to an external laboratory, and returned several days later. Fit depends on the accuracy of the impression, the laboratory's quality control, and the handling during transport.

At our clinic, the entire prosthetic workflow is digital. A 3D intraoral scan captures the implant position and surrounding anatomy with submillimeter accuracy. The crown is designed on-screen using CAD software, reviewed and adjusted in real time, then milled from a solid ceramic block using the Sirona MCXL inLab system — all within the same appointment in most cases. There is no impression tray, no putty, no external laboratory delay, and no fit discrepancy from handling.

The result is a crown that fits exactly as designed — the first time.