If you’re a dental patient thinking about getting implants or are currently receiving treatment with us here at FIC, you might have some questions about the tiny little piece that sits under your new artificial tooth - the implant abutment. This little component acts as a connector, bridging the gap between the implant screw and the prosthetic crown, bridge, or crown that sits atop. In this guide, we’ll do a deep dive into the intricate details about a dental abutment’s role, what types you can get, and the materials you can choose from. We’ll also give a brief look into industry tech that’s innovatively changed dental implant treatment.
Implant Abutments - A Small Component With a Big Role to Play
Despite their small size, a dental abutment plays a critical role in the success and aesthetics of your implant restoration. Here is why it’s important to select the right type:
1. Creating A Secure Attachment - It serves as a vital link between the implant screws that have fused with your jawbone, and the final repair that sits above your gums.
2. Hello To A Natural-looking Repair - The curved shape of the implant abutment is designed to encourage the growth of healthy tissue around your implant.
3. A Stable & Long-Term Solution - Dental abutments are crafted from extremely durable and biocompatible materials (we’ll cover these below) that can tolerate your bite.
4. A Bespoke Fit That’s Tailored to You - Your implant abutment can be tailored to address your specific circumstances, including your bone quality, gum thickness, and the position the implant needs to be in. If you’re looking for that perfect, natural-looking smile and have unique circumstances, a custom dental abutment can be tailored to fit you.
The Selection Of Your Implant Abutment - Picking of Material & Type
Selecting the type of dental abutment that’s right for you can be easily broken down into a handful of factors, including:
| Factor | Prefabricated | Prefabricated | Custom | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | Titanium | Zirconia | Titanium & Zirconia | This is a Titanium Implant Screw With a Zirconia Restoration |
| Material Description | Titanium is the gold standard for implant abutments, and is well-documented for its excellent biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and resistance to corrosion. | Zirconia implant abutments are an aesthetic alternative to titanium, giving patients a tooth-colored appearance. Excellent in biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and has a high mechanical strength. | Designed & manufactured specifically for your implant. | Combines prefabricated components with custom adjustments |
| How Does It Look? | Metallic grey | Natural, white shade. | Can be matched to surrounding teeth. | |
| How Durable Is It? | Excellent | Good | Excellent (depends on material used) | |
| Cost Level | Lower | Moderate | Highest | Varies depending on customization level. |
| Effect With Thin Gums | May show through gums due to grey color. | More aesthetically pleasing with thin gums. | Can be customized to minimize gum show-through. | |
| Modifiable? | Limited modification options. | Limited modification options | Unlimited modification options. | Limited modification options. |
| Optimal Implant Position | Compatible with most implant positions. | Ideal for complex implant positions. | Compatible with any location depending on needs. | |
*Honorable Mention - Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK). A high-performance engineered thermoplastic that’s showing promise due to its excellent toughness, durability, natural color, and comparable biocompatibility and hygienic properties with soft tissues as titanium. It offers a high level of strength and is resistant to wear, making it a potential material for dental abutments.
Tech Innovations For Implant Abutment Selection and Placement
Technology has always played an enormous role in medicine, constantly revolutionizing the way we think and operate. Abutment selection and placement have been largely impacted by technologies such as:
CAD/CAM Software
Computer-Aided Design/Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has opened the door to custom dental abutments, making them easier to design and fabricate with precision and accuracy. With CAD/CAM, personalized implant abutments can be created to perfectly match the patient's unique dental anatomy, and there have been advancements in using this tech to create implants with integrated emergence profiles, and integrated soft tissue management options.
Laser-Lok Technology
This tech has gained wide-spread recognition and adoption for its ability to create microchannels on the implant abutment’s surface, mimicking the natural structure of bone. These channels encourage optimal bone attachment and growth around the implant, promoting a strong biological seal which reduces the risk of peri-implantitis.
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