The choice of quality implant-abutment connection plays an important role in dental implants. Many dental implantologists pay special attention to the type of implant-abutment connections while choosing implant systems from a wide range of products on the market.
There are many types of implant-abutment connection. We are going to consider the five types widely used. With monolithic connection the implant and the abutment are one integral unit. This kind of connection is of limited use because the inclination of the abutment is not possible that is not always suitable for prosthetics. The aesthetic effect may be not good enough as well. This type of connection is not used in removable prosthetics. The only advantage of this connection is the absence of abutment mobility towards the implant, that ensures the absence of the prosthesis mobility. There is no a marginal gap between the implant and the abutment that is ideal for the formation of gingival pocket.
Another type of implant-abutment connection consists of two parts. This is conical screwless connection, that is retained by means of friction force. It is required to orient the abutment on the axis. This type of connection simplifies the problem of the abutment selection because this connection is tight but requires using only standard abutments. It can exert strong pressure on the walls of the implant, so the dental implantologist must be careful not to cause static stress and dental implant fracture.
The third type of connection includes three separate elements: a screw, the abutment and the implant. It is tapered fixation of an anti-rotational element as the abutment is screwed into the implant. This type is not widely used, since screw loosening and breakage are possible. It is not used for placing single crowns, but there is an opportunity to fabricate the prosthesis with screw fixation. In some cases the implant surgeon has to design an additional template, if the implant is significantly deviated from the axis of the crown.
The fourth type, consisting of the three components, is planar. This may be external and internal. The implant-abutment connection is attached to the external projecting screw edge of the implant and its upper part is attached to the abutment. Both standard and customized abutments can be used in this case. The abutment is correctly oriented to the crown during its fitting. But there can be a technological gap, which creates lack of tightness of the implant-abutment connection. This option is not suitable for incisors because of the wide abutment. It is important to remember that this case requires constant control by using computed tomography or x-ray.
The last type of the implant-abutment connection, consisting of three elements, is the most common. It is called internal, because the abutment connection is inserted into the screw connection of the implant-abutment. There is no a technological gap. There is a wide range for selection of individual abutments.
The company of Bio3 Implants recommends to pay special attention to the doctor’s advice about the choice of the implant-abutment connection since the success of the whole process of implantation depends directly on that choice.