Abutment Shape Of Dental Implants

I would consider this x-ray to have an ideal crown and abutment. This is really critical to the long term of the implants to prevent bone loss that is called peri-implantitis. This happens to be a custom abutment.

The abutment is the middle part between the implant in the bone and the crown in your mouth.  It is the transition between the two.  It is most often made in titanium or in zirconia.

Abutments can be be held in by screws or cement.

Too many abutments I see are poorly shaped because nobody really pays attention to this… The dentist just has the lab make a crown and abutment and perhaps they do not understand the biology and importance of this critical detail.

Note that the abutment is concave. This is not always possible but when it is it is really helpful for long-term prognosis. It takes special laboratory techniques along with my surgical shaping of the gums.

Thicker gums are always better than thinner gums but this particular design is helpful for both.

Just because the x-ray of your tooth may not look like this does not mean that it is bad! Dental implantology has evolved over the years. Dentistry will constantly be changing but the foundational science does not…. but often it needs to be questioned!

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Fellow-American Academy of Implant Dentistry

Burbank, CA

7 thoughts on “Abutment Shape Of Dental Implants”

  1. I just had my implant put in a couple days ago. Dentist said it looked great. After coming home, I looked at the implant closer. There s a “gap” between the gum and implant. Because of this gap, I can see part of the screw.

    Should I be concerned? I don’t think this is right. If I call my dentist, what do you advise I tell him? I can’t see him redoing the implant. But I feel I paid a lot of money and am not satisfied.

    I also tried finding others on line with this problem, but have not found anyone with the same problem.

    Thanks for any suggestions.

    Reply
  2. Thank you for this forum. I wish I had gone to you from the beginning.

    I just had all my lower teeth except for the back left molar removed and six implants placed.

    The day after the surgery the dentist placed a fixed bridge that feels like I’m wearing a bear trap. I had reservations about this because of how inflamed my gums were and how much pain and discomfort I was in with nothing in my mouth.

    The reason the dentist gave me was that the bridge will keep the implants in place and without it there is danger of the implants being compromised. I obviously need something in my mouth si Cr I have no teeth but this current solution feels like torture.

    The gums are inflamed and any eating creates radiating pain which causes sweats and headaches. I have a good pain tolerance but six months of this is unacceptable.

    I suggested a removable denture as I have read about but the dentist felt this was the best solution.

    Any alternatives please?

    Thank you.

    Reply
  3. Hi there. I am 22 years old and had an apico in my front central tooth (left) and my lateral next to it (left side as well) , which was done about 9 years ago due to a failed root canal. I Have two crowns placed there (permanently) and after almost a year with my crowns, a fistula has formed above my lateral where I had The infection years ago. It’s scary because I know an implant will most likely be the best option, or I was Thinking another apico? … I may need a bone Graft for sure, since I have a small bone loss there. However with dental implant, I’d like to know if I can have something more permanent than a flipper or removable retainer while it heals? The thought of anything removable is horrifying since these are my front teeth!! I want To be able to smile, and chew normally and nothing falling out

    Reply

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