Types Of Abutment Materials: Which One Is Right For You?

A dental implant surgery is a series of decisions. One of which includes which type of abutment material to choose. In this blog, we will provide relevant information on implant abutment materials and which ones tend to fuse best with our tissues and jaw bone.

Why Are Abutments Important?

Abutments can either be cement retained, screw retained or a combination of both. By definition, an abutment is an intermediate component which connects the implant screw to the prosthetic tooth. It provides retention, support, stability and accurate positioning for the artificial tooth.

5 Main Types of Materials Used In Abutments

In this section, we have listed main types of abutment materials.

Titanium

One of the most common choices when it comes to abutment materials is titanium. It is strong, biocompatible and resistant to corrosion. There are many advantages of using a titanium based abutment like durability, easy to work with and excellect osseointegration with the bone. The only con is that it may show through the gums due to its metallic color.

Zirconia

Second most popular choice for abutment materials is zirconia. It is a type of ceramic based material, comes in white color and offers great durability. Zirconia provides aesthetics and is also bio-compatible. It doesn’t corrode or discolor gums. However, zirconia based abutments can be more brittle and prone to breakage as compared to metal.

Gold Alloy

This abutment material consists of a combination of gold mixed with other metals. It is expensive due to gold content but provides durable and strong fit and is also bio-compatible.

Stainless Steel

Abutment material selection also includes stainless steel. It is a cheaper alternative for titanium but provides the same durability. It has good corrosion resistance. However, it is not as much used in modern implantology due to less aesthetics and compatibility to fuse.

Pekkton (PEEK)

Pekkton is a high performing polymer and is known as a lightweight and flexible abutment material. It is non-metallic and easy to shape. This material is best for patients who have metal allergies. The only disadvantage of this material is that it is not as strong as titanium or zirconia and less common in practice.

How To Choose The Right Abutment Material?

Once you have embarked on the journey of dental implants, choosing the right abutment material remains crucial for its durability and longevity. Here are some factors which make this process easy:

• Choose the best material based on excellent durability.
• Check with the aesthetic preference of the patient.
• Location of the teeth can help you decide better.
• Check with the patients’ budget for the entire treatment.
• Assess the gum and bone density to choose the best abutment material.
• Ask for any particular allergies such as metal.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right abutment material for patients contributes to a successful dental implant treatment. Make sure to check with all the patient specific factors to choose the best one in their case. Popularly, zirconia and titanium are best abutment material choices.

However, if you need personalized assistance, refer to experts at Get Implant. We deal in high quality abutments to increase overall patient satisfaction, efficiency and effectiveness of the treatment.  Call us at (713) 296-0329 for more information.