Multi-unit abutment

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A multi-unit abutment (MUA) is an abutment most commonly used with dental implants in "All-on-Four" protocols. [1] [2] They are designed for screw-retained group restorations, [3] which are often used in combination with angled dental implants [4] and whole arch replacements, as well as screw fixation of bridges made of zirconium or metal-ceramic group restorations to the implant. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Contents

Medical uses

Multi-unit abutments are used to align the prosthesis on a level restorative platform, adjust for variations in implant heights, and place the implant connection at the same level as or just below the gingival surface.

Terminology

Abutment (dentistry)
a supporting element fixed in the implant, [9] a prosthesis is directly attached to the abutment: a crown, multiple restoration or a splinted restoration of a complete dentition.
Multi-unit abutment
A multi-unit abutment is a type of abutment that allows for the connection of multiple implant fixtures to a single prosthesis. They can be angled or straight, and come in various sizes and shapes to fit different implant systems and clinical situations. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dentist</span> Health care occupations caring for the mouth and teeth

A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry, the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. The dentist's supporting team aids in providing oral health services. The dental team includes dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and sometimes dental therapists.

Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance of teeth, gums and/or bite. It primarily focuses on improvement in dental aesthetics in color, position, shape, size, alignment and overall smile appearance. Many dentists refer to themselves as "cosmetic dentists" regardless of their specific education, specialty, training, and experience in this field. This has been considered unethical with a predominant objective of marketing to patients. The American Dental Association does not recognize cosmetic dentistry as a formal specialty area of dentistry. However, there are still dentists that promote themselves as cosmetic dentists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dental surgery</span>

Dental surgery is any of a number of medical procedures that involve artificially modifying dentition; in other words, surgery of the teeth, gums and jaw bones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridge (dentistry)</span> Dental restoration for missing teeth

A bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth by joining an artificial tooth definitively to adjacent teeth or dental implants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dental technician</span> Technician working on dental appliances

A dental technician is a member of the dental team who, upon prescription from a dental clinician, constructs custom-made restorative and dental appliances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dental implant</span> Surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw

A dental implant is a prosthesis that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, or facial prosthesis or to act as an orthodontic anchor. The basis for modern dental implants is a biological process called osseointegration, in which materials such as titanium or zirconia form an intimate bond to the bone. The implant fixture is first placed so that it is likely to osseointegrate, then a dental prosthetic is added. A variable amount of healing time is required for osseointegration before either the dental prosthetic is attached to the implant or an abutment is placed which will hold a dental prosthetic/crown.

Osseointegration is the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing artificial implant. A more recent definition defines osseointegration as "functional ankylosis ", where new bone is laid down directly on the implant surface and the implant exhibits mechanical stability. Osseointegration has enhanced the science of medical bone and joint replacement techniques as well as dental implants and improving prosthetics for amputees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toothlessness</span> Lacking teeth

Toothlessness, or edentulism, is the condition of having no teeth. In organisms that naturally have teeth, it is the result of tooth loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAD/CAM dentistry</span> Computer-aided design and manufacturing of dental prostheses

CAD/CAM dentistry is a field of dentistry and prosthodontics using CAD/CAM to improve the design and creation of dental restorations, especially dental prostheses, including crowns, crown lays, veneers, inlays and onlays, fixed dental prostheses (bridges), dental implant supported restorations, dentures, and orthodontic appliances. CAD/CAM technology allows the delivery of a well-fitting, aesthetic, and a durable prostheses for the patient. CAD/CAM complements earlier technologies used for these purposes by any combination of increasing the speed of design and creation; increasing the convenience or simplicity of the design, creation, and insertion processes; and making possible restorations and appliances that otherwise would have been infeasible. Other goals include reducing unit cost and making affordable restorations and appliances that otherwise would have been prohibitively expensive. However, to date, chairside CAD/CAM often involves extra time on the part of the dentist, and the fee is often at least two times higher than for conventional restorative treatments using lab services.

Fixed prosthodontics is the branch of prosthodontics that focuses on dental prosthesis that are permanently affixed (fixed). Crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays, and veneers are some examples of indirect dental restorations. Prosthodontists are dentists who have completed training in this specialty that has been recognized by academic institutes. Fixed prosthodontics can be used to reconstruct single or many teeth, spanning tooth loss areas. The main advantages of fixed prosthodontics over direct restorations are improved strength in big restorations and the possibility to build an aesthetic-looking tooth. The concepts utilised to select the suitable repair, as with any dental restoration, include consideration of the materials to be used, the level of tooth destruction, the orientation and placement of the tooth, and the condition of neighboring teeth

A resin-retained bridge is a bridge replacing a missing tooth that relies for its retention on a composite resin cement. It is one of many available dental restoration methods which is considered minimally invasive and conservative of tooth tissue. The resin-retained-bridge has gone through a number of iterations. Perhaps the best known is the Maryland bridge and other designs used in the past include the Rochette bridge. The five-year survival rate is around 83.6% and the ten-year rate at 64.9%. The case selection is important and as with any dental prosthesis, good oral hygiene is paramount for success. In recent years, the indications for the use of resin-retained-bridges have diminished significantly and there have been changes in the principles underpinning their design. Resin-retained-bridges should be considered when a fixed prosthesis retained by natural teeth is required. The use has been driven by the advent of evidence-based dentistry showing the benefits to patients of reduced tooth preparation and the importance of an intact enamel structure for the long-term health of the teeth. The bridge is currently in favour in the United Kingdom for these reasons. Indeed, recent contemporary research shows resin retained bridges have better success rates than implants and are a cheaper alternative.

Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) represents a surgical concept and set of methods, that use computer technology for surgical planning, and for guiding or performing surgical interventions. CAS is also known as computer-aided surgery, computer-assisted intervention, image-guided surgery, digital surgery and surgical navigation, but these are terms that are more or less synonymous with CAS. CAS has been a leading factor in the development of robotic surgery.

In dentistry, an abutment is a connecting element. This is used in the context of a fixed bridge, partial removable dentures and in implants. The implant fixture is the screw-like component that is osseointegrated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platform switching</span>

In dentistry, platform switching is a method used to preserve alveolar bone levels around dental implants. The concept refers to placing screwed or friction fit restorative abutments of narrower diameter on implants of wider diameter, rather than placing abutments of similar diameters, referred to as platform matching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All-on-4</span>

The term All-on-4, also known as All‐on‐Four and All‐in‐Four, refers to 'all' teeth being supported 'on four' dental implants, a prosthodontics procedure for total rehabilitation of the edentulous (toothless) patient, or for patients with badly broken down teeth, decayed teeth, or compromised teeth due to gum disease. It consists of the rehabilitation of either edentulous or dentate maxilla and / or mandible with fixed prosthesis by placing four implants in the anterior maxilla, where bone density is higher. The four implants support a fixed prosthesis with 10 to 14 teeth, and it is placed immediately, typically within 24 hours of surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dental torque wrench</span>

A dental torque wrench or restorative torque wrench is a torque wrench used to precisely apply a specific torque to a fastener bolt for fixation of an abutment, dentures or prosthetics on a dental implant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicon Dental Implants</span>

Bicon Dental Implants is a privately owned company located in Boston, MA. The company specializes in short dental implants that use a locking taper or cold welding connection to secure the abutment to the implant. Bicon is notable and worthy of mention for the following three reasons: First, Bicon implants are extremely short in length. The size of Bicon implants allow them to be placed in regions that are crowded with natural teeth and/or implants, or in regions that would otherwise require bone grafting. Second, the implants do not have the screw-form design typical of other available implants. Third, the abutments are connected to the implant via a locking taper. This is notable from both a medical and engineering standpoint as no other implant company offers an implant with a biological seal at the implant/abutment interface; almost all other implants possess an internal screw to connect their abutments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overdenture</span> Removable dental prosthesis

Overdenture is any removable dental prosthesis that covers and rests on one or more remaining natural teeth, the roots of natural teeth, and/or dental implants. It is one of the most practical measures used in preventive dentistry. Overdentures can be either tooth supported or implant supported. It is found to help in the preservation of alveolar bone and delay the process of complete edentulism.

The history of dental treatments dates back to thousands of years. The scope of this article is limited to the pre-1981 history.

Pradeep Adatrow is an Indian-American dental educator, researcher, and clinician. He is a board certified Periodontist and Prosthodontists in the United States. He is an associate professor at the University of Tennessee.

References

  1. Resnik, Randolph (January 25, 2020). Misch's contemporary implant dentistry (4th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 879. ISBN   9780323478267.
  2. Byrne, Gerard (June 3, 2014). Fundamentals of Implant Dentistry. Wiley. p. 168. ISBN   9781118274965.
  3. Drago, Carl (February 19, 2020). Implant Restorations. Wiley. p. 358. ISBN   9781119538158.
  4. K. Ho, Christopher C., ed. (October 5, 2021). Practical Procedures in Implant Dentistry. Wiley. p. 247. ISBN   9781119399186.
  5. Nazarian, Dr Ara (2022-02-18). "Predictable immediate guided implant placement and provisionalisation". Dental Tribune International. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  6. "Zygoma implant multi-unit abutment: solve this puzzle?". OsseoNews. 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  7. "What are Multi-Unit Abutments? - Chicago Dental Implants". Teeth Chicago Dental Implants. 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  8. Yurij, Curatorial (2022-12-15). "Titanium. What Alloys Tooth Implants Are Made Of". uniqa.dental. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  9. "Glossary of Implant Dentistry" (PDF). International Congress of Oral Implantologists . Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  10. Wu, Yu-Ling; Wu, Aaron Yu-Jen (2017-04-21). "A method of fabricating an accurate repositioning device for relocating multiple multiunit abutments". The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 118 (4): 564–566. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2017.01.009 . ISSN   0022-3913. PMID   28434683.