Today, the main problem faced by dentists is the absence of one or more teeth in one dentition. Usually, in order to cope with this problem, the dentist chooses prosthetics, but today there is another way - prosthetics with the use of a dental implant based on abutment.
Abutment what is it that many dentistry patients ask? The abutment is the link that connects the implant together with the prosthetic structure that attaches directly to it. Abutment has a variety of definitions, for example, part of the implant, the basis for the crown and others.
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What the abutment looks like
An abutment is a small construction that installed on the implant. After that, a prosthesis is placed on it. Before installing the abutment, the doctor must make sure that the implant implant surgery was successful. When the abutment is screwed in, the patient walks with him for a week, so that the tissue after the operation calms down and returns to normal. And only after that the dentist installs an artificial tooth. The installation of the construction occurs quickly and the local anesthesia is sufficient.
What it looks like: first an implant is inserted into the gum, which performs the function of the tooth root. It is not even visible behind the gum line. Then the abutment is screwed in and it is worth noting that there is nothing like this in the structure of the tooth. It looks like a metal pin, towering above the gum, but it should not be above the rest of the adjacent teeth. And then a denture is installed.
It is worth knowing that the abutment requires careful care. On the first day after screwing it in, it will not be possible to touch it, because it causes severe pain. Therefore, care should be abandoned. Usually at this time, the dentist appoints a mouthwash. After 2-3 days, the swelling of the gums will begin to subside and at this time it is worthwhile to begin proper care. This is necessary to exclude complications and infection inside the gums.
Sometimes it happens that after three days the gum still hurts and besides this, from it liquid starts to come out. In such cases, you should immediately contact a specialist, there is a chance that an abscess has started and it must be properly treated. But if you tighten with a visit to the doctor, then the abutment will begin to falter and may break, while infection occurs in the gums, and the structure should be replaced as a matter of urgency.
The implant abutment can have a different design, everything depends on the patient’s desire, treatment and implantation method. Remember, the abutment must be protected, because it is not yet a prosthesis and it is also not worth exposing it to the load. Food is better to choose a soft and every time after eating, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic solution.
Material used and abutment types
To create an abutment, metal, plastic, ceramic or zirconium dioxide is used. In rare cases, these metals can combine. For the selection of the abutment, the role is played by the type of prosthesis and cost. Its size depends on the implant. At the moment, dentists select the abutment from the created structures, but it happens that the abutment is made according to the individual order of the patient.
Customer can choose of the types of abutment offered to him by the dentist. These include:
- Standard. This type is of different lengths, which is selected individually.This type of abutment is chosen by average people, because it has many advantages: accessibility, several options, precision when landing. But at the same time he has disadvantages: he is not able to repeat the shape of the tooth, sometimes there is a marriage and it is located below the gum, while pushing it.
- Angular. This type of design is created with a slope to install the prosthesis on the implant at a large angle. This will give the dentition naturalness.
- Ballpoint. It is intended for fixing orthopedic devices that have a removable design.
- Straight. The most popular type of abutment and convenient for prosthetics.
Abutment types also vary.It all depends on the preferences of the patient and financial possibilities:
- titanium, used in any situation and has a low cost. But this type has a disadvantage - it is aesthetic characteristics;
- zirconium is excellent for aesthetic purposes and is stable. Prosthetics is of high quality and gives a guarantee for durability;
- the ceramic blends well with the rest of the teeth and gently acts on the gum tissue without irritating it;
- plastic is perfect for those patients who can not afford other types of abutment. The downside is that this material is fragile and prone to breakage, therefore, most often it is used as a temporary structure;
- combined is made to individual customer order. Commonly used materials such as metal and zirconium, which gives the structure strength and attractiveness;
- The locator is intended for partial prosthetics. Due to the fact that this type of abutment has not profiling, it is able to increase the possibilities of prostheses and provide double fixation. At the same time, it can be regulated by the patient, and he himself can install the prosthesis.
In addition to the types of structures and types of materials from which they are made, they are also divided by manufacturing companies. Locator is one of the companies that has established itself well in the market. But there are other excellent firms, for example, Nobel, which mainly manufactures titanium and zirconia abutments, while they use biocompatible materials.
Several methods are also used for the installation of abutments, and transgingival express implantation is considered the most innovative. With it, the implant is installed through a small puncture of the gums, while it is not completely cut, and the sutures are not applied, which is a plus of this procedure. Also, this method is painless and does not lead to postoperative complications. In this case, the entire procedure for installing an abutment and an artificial tooth takes place in one day.
Abutment Fixation
Ways of fixation are of two types:
- screw, in which the crown is screwed to the abutment with a screw. This method of attachment has the advantage that after some time it is possible to remove the structure in order to make its restoration. But the method also has disadvantages, for example, screw attachment of an abutment is considered a stress concentrate, while the whole structure can be weakened, especially if the material used is ceramics.
- cementing, in which the prosthesis is attached due to dental cement. This method also has its advantage - fixation has improved aesthetic qualities and the patient feels comfortable in use. The disadvantage is that if the cement gets under the gum, it will lead to periimplantitis. The tissue around the implant will inflame and inflammation will occur. It is difficult to clean the gum from the cement that has entered it, therefore, before cementing, the specialist must calculate the amount of cement used.
It should be noted that after installing the abutment will feel discomfort, but if the swelling and soreness of the gums does not go away after a week, then it means that the soft tissues reject the implant and urgent dentist intervention is necessary.
How to choose
It is worth considering that now you can choose any type of abutment and its fixation. But best of all choose a solid abutment. It is a single design, in other words, the implant is made with a built-in abutment. In this case, the abutment is not screwed and is not planted on cement, it is already poured at the factory. With the help of filing, the dentist will give him the shape of the patient's teeth. The advantages of this type include the fact that the implant, abutment and crown are installed immediately and at the same time it can withstand any load. Fabric at installation is not injured. If there is a possibility, then it is best to choose exactly the individual cast type of abutment.
Before choosing any kind of abutment physician and patient take into account:
- clinical picture, which takes into account the depth of the implant, the height of the mucous around it and the distance from the tooth;
- aesthetic character, if the prosthesis occurs with the front teeth in the smile area, then it is worth considering that the abutment of metal can appear through the gum;
- to choose the right method of fixation;
- cost
therefore abutment selection - this is an individual matter for each patient, but it is better to choose not from the price category, but to adhere to such qualities as strength, durability and aesthetics.