When Replacement Is Needed
- Crown wear or damage β Porcelain crowns may chip, crack, or wear after 10-15 years. A new crown is fabricated and attached to the existing implant post.
- Prosthetic fracture β Acrylic prosthetics are prone to breaking and typically need replacement every 5-7 years. Zirconia fractures are rare but covered by Fusion's lifetime warranty.
- Cosmetic upgrade β Some patients choose to upgrade from acrylic to zirconia prosthetics, or from an older crown to a more natural-looking replacement.
- Screw loosening β Abutment screws can loosen over time. This is a quick in-office fix (retightening or screw replacement), not a full replacement.
- Implant failure β If an implant loses integration (rare after the first year), it's removed, the site heals, and a new implant can be placed.
The Replacement Process
Crown/Prosthetic Replacement
When the implant post is healthy but the prosthetic needs replacing:
- The old crown or prosthesis is removed (painless β just unscrewing or unclipping)
- New impressions are taken
- A new prosthetic is fabricated (in our in-house lab for fast turnaround)
- The new prosthetic is attached and adjusted
This typically requires 2 appointments over 1-2 weeks. No surgery involved.
Full Implant Replacement
When the implant post itself needs replacing:
- The failed implant is removed (usually simple, often just unscrewing it)
- The site heals for 8-12 weeks
- A new implant is placed
- Standard healing and restoration follows
Upgrading to Zirconia
Many patients with older acrylic prosthetics choose to upgrade to monolithic zirconia:
- 5x stronger and more durable than acrylic
- More natural appearance β translucency and color matching are superior
- Stain-resistant β maintains appearance over years
- No odor retention β a common complaint with acrylic
- Lifetime warranty at Fusion
The upgrade process uses your existing implants β no surgery required. New impressions, lab fabrication, and placement typically take 2-3 appointments.
Why Patients Choose Fusion Dental Implants
- βIn-House Lab & Same-Day Results β Our on-site lab crafts your custom zirconia prosthetics, so you can walk out with a new smile the same day. No waiting weeks for an outside lab.
- βLifetime Warranty on Zirconia β We stand behind our work with a lifetime structural warranty on all full-arch zirconia restorations. If it cracks or breaks under normal use, we replace it free.
- βPrice-Match Guarantee β Because we own our lab and employ our specialists directly, we keep costs lower than corporate chains. We'll match any competitor's quote for comparable treatment.

