Implant Abutment
Dental implants are made of three parts: the implant itself, the abutment, and the crown. The crown is the prosthetic replacement tooth that is visible above the gumline, and the implant is the cylindrical piece of metal that is placed into the jawbone. The abutment is the hinge or shallow clasp that attaches the crown to the implant and holds the crown in place. The implant post is usually made of titanium, and the crown may be made of metal, porcelain, ceramic, or zirconia, or of a combination of these materials. The abutment, which needs to be strong, flexible, and easy to clean and maintain, may be made of the same material as the implant or the same material as the crown, or they may be made from gold, stainless steel, or a special thermoplastic composite material.
The implant is placed into the jaw in a minor surgical procedure. Once the implant has healed, fusing with the surrounding bone, the abutment is placed. This healing process takes several months, and, if the patient’s jaw requires reinforcement from a bone graft, healing may take longer. Patients are usually given a temporary prosthetic tooth to wear while the implant is healing. This lengthy healing process creates a stable foundation for your prosthetic tooth, which will bear the wear and tear of chewing and other functions. After the bone and implant have fully healed, the dentist uses a local anesthesia at the site of the implant and affixes the abutment to the implant, using dental cement or a special kind of screw called a lag screw. Once the surrounding gum tissue has fully healed, the crown can be attached to the abutment, and the restoration is complete.
Abutments may also be used to attach a bridge or removable denture to an implant. Removable dentures are affixed to abutments with special retainers that allow the wearer to snap the denture into place and to remove it for cleaning; these retainers are designed to firmly hold the denture in place and to also allow its comfortable removal. Some dental abutments are pre-fabricated, while others are custom made for the patient’s specific restoration. Certain abutments materials are preferable for certain types of restorations, though titanium is often used because of its resilience and its biocompatibility, and zirconium, which matches the natural color of the tooth, may be preferred if the abutment will be highly visible. Other abutment materials may be recommended in specific situations. In some cases, abutments are angular, allowing them to be placed on an implant in a tight or compromised location and still support a properly placed tooth.
Implants and other dental restorations should be cared for as one would care for their natural teeth. Dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily, though some types of implants can pose challenges for flossing; in these cases, dentists may recommend an interdental brush or water irrigation system to clean between the teeth and around the abutment and crown. Regular dental checkups are still necessary for patients with dental restorations, so that the dentist can check the restoration and the gum tissue and natural teeth to make sure they’re all still healthy and functioning properly.