Dental Abutment
If you are missing one or more teeth in one area of your mouth, a dental implant may be a restorative option for you. Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth or a couple of teeth in an area of the mouth. They can also be used to support a dental bridge or even a partial denture or a full denture. A dental implant is constructed of three parts: the implant, the abutment, and the implant crown.
If your dentist determines that you may need a dental implant, they will refer you to an oral surgeon or periodontist for an evaluation. Once the specialist determines that you are a candidate for implant placement, they will schedule you for surgery.
What is an abutment?
An implant abutment acts as the connecting piece between the dental implant and the implant crown. The specialist will surgically place a titanium dental implant into your jaw bone and cover the area with a healing abutment, or healing cap. This temporary abutment protects the implant as it heals and integrates with your bone structure.
The healing cap will remain in place for about six months during which it is important that you avoid very sticky or crunchy foods that can disturb the abutment and damage the implant. it is also important that you avoid an infection.
If you experience any of the following while your healing cap is in place, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible:
- The healing cap becomes loose
- Pain in the jaw or sinuses
- Bleeding that will not stop
- Fever
Once it is time for your dentist to take over, they may need you to visit your oral surgeon to have any overgrown gum tissue removed to reveal the implant.
How is an implant crown placed on the implant?
Your dentist will take an impression of your mouth to make a model for the dental lab to use to make your custom abutment and implant crown. It will take about two weeks for your dentist to receive your abutment and crown back from the dental lab.
The next step is for your dentist to try the restoration. If it is perfect on the first try, they will proceed with permanently affixing the abutment and crown onto the implant. If you are having more than one tooth replaced, it may take another visit to get it perfect.
Your implant crown may be permanently placed with either cement or a screw. In the event that a screw is used, the abutment is placed over the implant and a screw is tightened through the crown and abutment into the implant and sealed with composite material.
Caring for Your Implant
It is important to maintain or improve your oral hygiene routine when you have a dental restoration. An implant crown cannot develop decay but neighboring teeth can cause problems for the implant if they develop decay and infection that negatively impacts your bone structure. Your dentist will take an x-ray of the area once a year to make sure that everything is healthy and successful.