Why is it important to place an implant deep?

It is to secure the vertical space where the gum will attach and the height over which the prosthesis can flare out gently. If this space is lacking, the bone remodels in the early healing period to create the space, and the prosthesis may flare out abruptly over a short span, leaving a shape that a toothbrush has difficulty reaching. Yeonhap Dental Clinic plans the depth with 4 mm from the gum surface to the platform as the standard.

I heard that placing an implant deep is bad. Is it okay?

Depth is a means of securing space for the gum to attach, not a goal in itself. Early bone changes with subcrestal placement are reported differently depending on study conditions, so Yeonhap Dental Clinic uses 4 mm for conventional placement as the standard and goes deeper only as much as needed. How this varies with gum thickness is summarized on our Tap-dong implant page.

Why does the shape of the implant prosthesis matter?

The emergence angle is the angle between the implant's long axis and the prosthesis surface that flares out near the gum, and the emergence profile is whether that surface is convex, straight, or concave. If the margin is steep or convex, an interdental brush has difficulty reaching and plaque tends to remain; in some studies of bone-level implants, peri-implantitis was more frequent with an emergence angle over 30 degrees and a convex profile (causality has not been established). Yeonhap Dental Clinic uses a custom abutment to create an emergence angle within 30 degrees and a non-convex profile.

I heard the gum around my implant is weak. What do you do?

We check whether the width of the firm gum (keratinized mucosa) around the implant is 2 mm or more, how much it moves, and any discomfort when brushing. If the width is lacking, then as needed at the second-stage surgery we widen it by moving the gingival flap toward the root and fixing it (APF); in this case sutures are placed, so you need to come back once more to have them removed.

Cross-section illustration of an implant placed at a depth below the gum surface, parallel to the neighboring tooth root, with a crown emerging naturally from the gum

SUWON IMPLANT CLINIC

5 Criteria We Check Before Surgery and the Key Design Points

Yeonhap Dental Clinic plans placement depth and direction based on CBCT and gum condition, and makes a prosthetic shape that is easy to clean within those conditions.

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Why Diagnosis Matters

The surgical plan determines the shape of the prosthesis

On the day an implant is placed, it looks similar wherever it is done; the differences show up in the gum and prosthesis a few years later. Because the crown can only emerge from where the implant is placed, the depth and placement direction determine the shape of the prosthesis made later. Yeonhap Dental Clinic builds the placement plan from 3D CBCT and gum evaluation, and makes the abutment and crown shape to fit those conditions.

Consultation Checklist

What we check at your first consultation

While planning depth, placement direction, and prosthetic shape, we also confirm the surgical scope and cost that are needed.

Bone grafting: we check on CBCT whether a position can be found that leaves 2 mm on the cheek side and 1.5 mm on the tongue side
Sinus lift: for upper molars, we check whether 7 mm or more of bone remains up to the maxillary sinus
A full jaw is discussed on the basis of 12 teeth, and adding tooth #7 is judged separately
The estimate explains separately the items that apply depending on the fixture, abutment, crown, and CBCT
The first day covers the exam, explanation, and estimate. You can make your decision at home

Treatment Options

Depth, Placement Direction, and Prosthetic Shape: How Yeonhap Dental Clinic Decides

The three are not decided separately. The placement plan becomes the condition for the prosthetic shape.

Cross-section illustration of an implant with a dimension line marking 4 mm from the gum surface to the implant platform

Depth: first, secure space for the gum to attach

We first secure the vertical space where the gum attaches and the height over which the prosthesis flares out gently. Yeonhap Dental Clinic places implants with 4 mm from the gum surface to the platform as the standard; this is our own clinical standard, not a value from the literature.

Cross-section illustration with dotted lines parallel to the root axis of the neighboring tooth and the implant axis, showing parallel placement direction

Placement direction: matched to where the crown will emerge

We first look at where the final crown will emerge and the opposing teeth it will meet, and plan the direction on CBCT. Molars are placed parallel to the root axis of the neighboring tooth; front teeth are placed toward the palate so that the axis does not cross the line of the adjacent teeth's incisal edges.

Illustration of an implant crown that flares out gently as it passes through the gum, and a toothbrush touching the gum margin

Prosthetic shape: within 30 degrees, not convex

An emergence angle within 30 degrees and a non-convex emergence profile are two separate items. Yeonhap Dental Clinic uses a custom abutment to meet both conditions and create a shape in which an interdental brush reaches below the margin.

Planning Points

How what is decided at surgery determines the prosthesis

Position, depth, and direction cannot be changed after placement, so the prosthesis is made within those conditions.

Cross-section comparison, side by side, of an implant deep enough for the crown to flare out gently and an implant too short in height so that it flares out abruptly over a short span

The depth and direction set at surgery limit the prosthetic shape

The crown can only emerge from where the implant is placed. With enough depth there is room for it to flare out gently; with insufficient height it flares out abruptly over a short span. So we decide the prosthetic shape first, and place the implant where that shape can be achieved.

View from the cheek side of the band of firm gum (keratinized mucosa) around an implant crown and the movable gum beneath it

We also prepare the gum around the prosthesis

We check whether the firm gum (keratinized mucosa) around the implant is 2 mm or wider, how much it moves, and any discomfort when brushing. If the width is lacking, we supplement it with APF at the second-stage surgery when needed.

Before Visit

Helpful details before your visit

If you bring the points below organized, at the first consultation we can explain the placement plan and prosthetic shape to fit your case.

The area that bothers you most now and your symptoms
When the tooth was extracted and any denture or bridge you use now
If you have an earlier implant, when and where it was placed
Whether you take diabetes or osteoporosis medication, or aspirin, Plavix, or similar drugs

Depth, Placement Direction, and Prosthetic Shape: Our Criteria at Yeonhap Dental Clinic

Depth: The standard is 4 mm from the gum surface to the platform; we place deeper when the gum is thick, and usually at 5–7 mm for immediate placement after extraction. Gum thickness is measured directly during surgery, and bone position is confirmed with 3D CBCT. Placement direction: Molars are placed parallel to the root axis of the neighboring tooth; front teeth are placed toward the palate, angled within the line of the adjacent teeth's incisal edges. Prosthetic shape: With a custom abutment, we create an emergence angle within 30 degrees and a non-convex emergence profile. Surrounding gum: We check that the keratinized mucosa is 2 mm or more wide and, if lacking, widen it with APF at the second-stage surgery as needed.

Depth, Placement Direction, and Prosthetic Shape: The Evidence and Its Limits

In a study of patients with thin gums, the group placed 1.5 mm below the crest had less marginal bone loss at 2 years than the group placed at crest level with thickened soft tissue (Linkevicius 2020), but early bone changes with deep placement differ from study to study, so this does not mean that deeper is better (Hedayatipanah 2024). In some studies of bone-level implants, peri-implantitis was more frequent with an emergence angle over 30 degrees, particularly when combined with a convex profile, but these were single-time-point comparisons, so causality has not been established (Katafuchi 2018, Soulami 2022). With keratinized mucosa narrower than 2 mm, more plaque, inflammation, and gum recession are reported (Lin 2013). The placement direction criteria are not values from the literature but our own clinic standards. For this reason, Yeonhap Dental Clinic refers to research findings but decides the actual depth, placement direction, prosthetic shape, and whether to supplement the gum according to each patient's condition. References: Linkevicius 2020, 2-year randomized study of subcrestal placement in thin gums · Hedayatipanah 2024, vertical implant position and marginal bone loss · Katafuchi 2018, prosthetic emergence angle and profile and peri-implantitis · Soulami 2022, systematic review of emergence angle and profile and peri-implantitis · Lin 2013, systematic review of peri-implant keratinized mucosa Treatment results may vary by individual oral condition.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why is it important to place an implant deep?: It is to secure the vertical space where the gum will attach and the height over which the prosthesis can flare out gently. If this space is lacking, the bone remodels in the early healing period to create the space, and the prosthesis may flare out abruptly over a short span, leaving a shape that a toothbrush has difficulty reaching. Yeonhap Dental Clinic plans the depth with 4 mm from the gum surface to the platform as the standard.
Q. I heard that placing an implant deep is bad. Is it okay?: Depth is a means of securing space for the gum to attach, not a goal in itself. Early bone changes with subcrestal placement are reported differently depending on study conditions, so Yeonhap Dental Clinic uses 4 mm for conventional placement as the standard and goes deeper only as much as needed. How this varies with gum thickness is summarized on our Tap-dong implant page.
Q. Why does the shape of the implant prosthesis matter?: The emergence angle is the angle between the implant's long axis and the prosthesis surface that flares out near the gum, and the emergence profile is whether that surface is convex, straight, or concave. If the margin is steep or convex, an interdental brush has difficulty reaching and plaque tends to remain; in some studies of bone-level implants, peri-implantitis was more frequent with an emergence angle over 30 degrees and a convex profile (causality has not been established). Yeonhap Dental Clinic uses a custom abutment to create an emergence angle within 30 degrees and a non-convex profile.
Q. I heard the gum around my implant is weak. What do you do?: We check whether the width of the firm gum (keratinized mucosa) around the implant is 2 mm or more, how much it moves, and any discomfort when brushing. If the width is lacking, then as needed at the second-stage surgery we widen it by moving the gingival flap toward the root and fixing it (APF); in this case sutures are placed, so you need to come back once more to have them removed.