Dental Implant Abutment

1. The concept of abutment

The abutment is an important part of the dental implant restoration process and can be understood as the bridge connecting the implant and restoration. The implant is inserted into the missing tooth position to complete the biological integration of the bone and the implant, while the abutment is connected to the implant to complete the fixation of the restoration. The choice of abutment must be customized based on factors such as the condition of the missing tooth, the location of the dental implant, and the shape of the implant.

2. How are dental implant abutments and implants connected?

There are two ways of connecting the abutment to the implant:internal connection and external connection.

Internal connection: Also called a taper connection, this is a relatively slow form of treatment. The internal connection is that the implant and the abutment are processed at the same time to form a single body, which is closer than the external connection. Internal connections help reduce the size of the implant port and reduce the risk of bacterial infection.

External connection: is a more commonly used connection method. In appearance, the externally connected abutment looks more like a screw, while the implant and the abutment are tightly fixed through a threaded structure. During the surgery, the surgeon first installs the implant and then compresses the abutment into place to complete the fixation.

3. What materials are used for dental implant abutments?

（1）. Metal abutment 

Metal abutment is a widely used abutment material. Its main components are titanium, aluminum, etc., which have the advantages of high strength and high toughness, and the price is relatively low. In addition, metal abutments have good biocompatibility and will not cause allergic reactions to human tissues. The installation process of metal abutments is relatively simple and has good stability. However, metal abutments are not very aesthetically pleasing and are generally used in the posterior teeth area.

（2）Pure titanium abutment

The material used in pure titanium abutments is grade 5 titanium, which contains 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium, 0.25% iron, 0.2% oxygen, and the remaining components are titanium. It has high hardness, is not easy to wear, and has relatively good antioxidant properties. In addition, pure titanium abutments have good biocompatibility, excellent compatibility with human tissues, and will not cause major side effects.

（3）Zirconia all-ceramic abutment

All-ceramic abutment is a new type of abutment material with excellent biocompatibility, high hardness, strength and stability. Compared with metal abutments, high ceramic abutments have a more natural color and better permeability. Its aesthetics are relatively high and it can blend well with natural teeth. However, the price of this kind of abutment is relatively high, and the installation process requires high precision and high-quality technical cooperation.

In summary, the material of the abutment has an important impact on the quality, lifespan, and aesthetics of dental implant restorations. When selecting abutment materials, comprehensive considerations should be made based on factors such as tooth loss, personal oral hygiene status, patient needs, and economic conditions, and a suitable abutment material should be selected under the guidance of a doctor to achieve a better dental implant. Repair results.