What is the Abutment of Dental Implants?
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What is the Abutment of Dental Implants?

If you have a missing tooth, you are way too familiar with the frustrations and stigma that comes with a toothless smile. Either you lost your tooth in an accident or to tooth disease. Whichever way, it’s still nothing to be proud of, and you can rectify it if you want to. The human teeth are one of those intricate body parts that cannot grow back like hair or nails once altered. However, you can once again enjoy a beautiful smile with a proper dental implant due to technology and innovation. This article explains more about what an abutment is, abutment for dental-implant and the intricacies of dental-implant.

What is a dental abutment?

When you have a missing tooth, your doctor can fill the space with an artificial tooth or teeth through a dental-implant procedure. Dental Implants typically have three parts, which are intricately integrated to make the implants function like real teeth. These three parts are the crown, the abutment, and the dental-implant. The piece that is mounted on the jawbone to steady the height in place is the abutment for dental-implant.

The abutment can be made of different materials, including titanium, gold, ceramic, porcelain, and zirconia. Since an abutment made of ceramic is typically white, it naturally complements the crown and other teeth. An abutment for dental-implant is manufactured in a dental laboratory with the design, color, and shape of real teeth to accommodate the abutment crown.

Besides dental implants, dental bridges and dentures are other teeth replacement options that can restore your power to smile with confidence. You can discuss with your Los Angeles dentist the best procedure that suits you best. At Smile Angels Beverly of Hills, we always take our patients through each available option’s pros and cons to enable them to settle for one they are comfortable with.

There is a type of abutment called a healing cuff or abutment crown, which accelerates the gum tissue’s healing where the implant is placed. An abutment crown is typically placed above the dental-implant during fitting. They’re also a bit wide in size, and this helps shape the gum in place.

How Dental Implants Works

A dental-implant is an outpatient procedure that can be done in stages. In between, sufficient time is allowed for healing to take place before the next course is done. A typical dental implant process is as follows:

  • Removal of your damaged teeth
  • Bone grafting (this is optional)
  • Placement of the Dental Implants
  • Growth and healing of the jawbone
  • Placement of abutment for Dental Implants
  • Placement of the artificial tooth

The whole process can take up several months, probably a year or more. Healing and jawbone growth takes up much of that time. However, the approach can be flexible depending on your jawbone condition, preferred dental surgery procedure, and materials.

Bone Grafting

Ideally, bone grafting is optional and only applicable if you have a weak jawbone that cannot support the actual dental surgery. That is because a lot of pressure is applied to the jawbone when chewing. If the jawbone is not stable enough, the procedure may not be successful. A bone graft at Smile Angels of Beverly Hills is critical in creating a more robust support system for the implant.

For bone grafting, your orthodontist can use a piece of your natural bone taken off your body or a synthetic bone for a substitute. These options are useful, but you can discuss with your orthodontist what type of bone you prefer. After a successful bone grafting procedure, it can take several months before your jawbone heals and becomes strong enough to support the actual dental-implant surgical operation.

Dental Implants Procedure

Once the dental implant has been fitted into the jawbone, it can be left to heal in two different stages. It can be covered with gum tissue and given a healing period of six months. At the end of the healing period, the gums are uncovered with a laser. Alternatively, your doctor can screw an abutment crown into the implant to maintain a steady position throughout the healing period.

The abutment crown or healing cuff acts as a barrier between the gum and the implant to avert a possible repeat surgery. After the dental implant gets integrated into the mouth, the healing cuff is taken off to allow the implant to heal. It is possible that the abutment crown can cause the gum to take on an uneven shape. When this happens, a second procedure can be done to recontour the gums.

Types of Artificial Teeth

When you decide on a dental implant procedure, there are several types of artificial teeth you can choose from. These include removable teeth, fixed teeth, or a mixture of both. Your Los Angeles dentist can explain each option and help you choose the right one, depending on your condition. Let’s take a look at these options:

Removable teeth

Removable teeth have the same similarities as conventional dentures. They can be full of partial dentures and are designed as white synthetic teeth and pink plastic gum. It’s attached to a metal frame that can be easily fitted into the abutment for an implant and be easily removed for cleaning and repair.

Fixed teeth

A fixed artificial tooth is permanently fitted into the implant abutment. It can be screwed or cemented to ensure it stays forever in place. As such, you cannot remove a fixed tooth either to clean or repair.

What to Expect After Dental Implants

Once you have completed the procedure in either one or multiple stages, you may experience side effects of the dental surgery, including at least one of the following:

  • Face and gum swelling
  • Pain at the location of the implant
  • Minor bleeding
  • Skin bruises

These are expected minor effects that can improve with time and with antibiotics or pain medications. However, you should contact your orthodontist if the discomfort persists.

Outcomes

Dental Implants can be performed successfully. In rare cases, bone failure can derail the success of the procedure. Individual habits like smoking are the primary catalyst for the lack of adequate bone fusion. If you are confronted with this setback, the implant can be removed, followed by a cleanup of the jawbone and a second procedure after 90 days. To help your orthodontist perform a successful operation, ensure that you:

  1. Adopt hygienic oral practices: Maintain proper oral hygiene and ensure you use the recommended products for cleaning a mouth with an ongoing dental surgery. Use specific brushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash
  2. Go for regular dental checkups: Routine checkups and follow-ups are necessary during the healing stages following your dental surgery.
  3. Abstain from toxic habits: Chewing hard food or objects can significantly affect your jawbone, mostly if it has not healed correctly. Tobacco and caffeine also contain ingredients that can stain your teeth. Avoid them as much as possible.

Final Word

Now that you know how an abutment works, it is possible to restore your beautiful smile with the proper dental-implant. At Smile Angels of Beverly Hills, we understand the joy a confident smile adds to your life, and we want to help you experience that joy again. The cost of dental implants in Los Angeles is competitive. However, we have flexible options that can fit your budget. Please give us a call today, and let’s discuss how we can use an abutment to improve your dental situation. You don’t need to live with low esteem when we can rectify your toothless smile and boost your confidence.

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