Dental abutments support dental prostheses such as crowns, bridges, and dentures. There are different dental abutments, including stock and custom abutments. Stock abutments are prefabricated abutments that come in various shapes and sizes. They are often used for temporary restorations or in situations where the patient has limited time or financial resources. Custom abutments are explicitly made for each patient based on their needs and anatomical structures. The development of custom dental abutments dates to the early days of dental implants in the 1980s. In 1983, the first custom abutment was developed by Dr. Paul Weigl, a German dentist who pioneered dental implantology. Dr. Weigl developed the custom abutment to address the limitations of stock abutments, which often needed to fit better or provide optimal support for dental restorations.
Custom abutments are dental implant components that are custom-made to fit your specific oral anatomy and unique needs, ensuring an accurate fit and optimal function. They connect a dental implant to a dental restoration such as a crown, bridge, or denture. The abutment is placed onto the implant after it has fused with the jawbone, and it serves as the foundation for the final dental restoration. This is the perfect restorative dental solution for patients with missing or damaged teeth. Custom abutments are a highly effective and reliable treatment that can help patients achieve optimal oral health and function.
Unlike stock abutments in a limited range of sizes and shapes, custom abutments are designed and fabricated precisely for the individual patient’s implant site. They can be made from various materials, including titanium, zirconia, porcelain, gold, and hybrid materials, and can be designed to accommodate different dental restorations. Custom abutments are typically fabricated using advanced computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technologies. A dental impression is taken of your implant site and surrounding teeth to create a custom abutment. This impression is then used to create a model of your mouth, and a custom abutment is designed to fit the implant and match the contours of the surrounding teeth, then milling from a block of material.
Custom abutments offer several advantages over stock abutments. They allow for greater customization of the restoration, resulting in improved esthetics and function. They also provide better support for the replacement tooth and can help to preserve the surrounding gum tissue and bone. Custom abutments give a more precise and accurate fit than prefabricated abutments, leading to better aesthetic and functional outcomes for the patient.
Custom abutments are generally considered better than stock abutments for several reasons:
- Better fit: Custom abutments are designed for each patient, considering their unique anatomy and the specific implant system used. This results in a better fit and more excellent stability for the dental prosthesis.
- Improved aesthetics: Custom abutments can be fabricated to match the shape, size, and color of the surrounding teeth, resulting in a more natural-looking restoration.
- Better function: Custom abutments can be designed to provide optimal support for the dental prosthesis, resulting in improved function and longevity.
- Greater comfort: Custom abutments are designed to fit snugly against the gum tissue, reducing the risk of irritation or discomfort.
- Reduced risk of complications: Custom abutments can help reduce the risk of complications such as implant failure, screw loosening, or bone loss.
While stock abutments can be a good option in certain situations, such as temporary restorations or when time or financial constraints are an issue, custom abutments are generally considered the superior choice for long-term dental restorations. Only a dentist can advise you on the best type of abutment for your individual needs.
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