Advantages of CAD/CAM Custom Abutments in Implant Dentistry

The use of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) technology to design and manufacture custom implant abutments is a highly predictable and reliable fabrication process; demonstrating survival rates comparable to conventionally fabricated abutments². The latest generation of CAD/CAM techniques allows the “clinician or technician to fully customize the abutment contour to match carefully the clinical situation after tissue customization with provisional restorations”¹.

Benefits of CAD/CAM Custom abutments

·         Precisely configures abutment for ideal anatomic contours¹

·         Optimal design for esthetic emergence profile¹

·         Highly predictable manufacturing process²

·         Availability of angulation correction¹    

·         100% survival rates reported up to a 6-year period²

·         No technical complications reported up to a 6-year period²

·         Cheaper than gold cast abutments¹

Over the last 10 years, dental CAD/CAM digital systems have been gaining increased use in implant dentistry because of the accurate and calculable nature of CAD/CAM technology. For instances, some studies found the fit of “CAD/CAM implant frameworks to be statistically superior to that of conventional cast frameworks”¹. It also has improved productivity and efficiency of prosthetic manufacturing processes within the dental lab. Continuous improvements to CAD/CAM technology have started to challenge the technique of fabricating dental implants and abutments using conventional methods.

Implant abutments should be made from biocompatible materials with adequate mechanical properties to meet the functional, biological and esthetic demands¹. Furthermore, they should “accurately and passively fit on their mating implants to prevent complications, such as screw loosening, bone loss and abutment fractures during function”¹. To achieve optimal mucogingival esthetics, dental implant abutments require the appropriate emergence profile needed to support the surrounding soft tissue, especially for esthetically driven patients¹.

Implant abutments can be either stock, cast custom or CAD/CAM custom abutments. The main advantage of stock abutments is their lower initial cost, but a major disadvantage is the ideal anatomic contour and emergence profile cannot be achieved. Cast custom abutments have similar tough mechanical properties to CAD/CAM custom abutments; however, the complicated fabrication process of investing, casting and finishing could be prone to manufacturing errors¹. Whereas, the use of CAD/CAM technology to design and manufacture custom abutments has been clinically proven to be extremely accurate due to the predictable nature of computer-aided manufacturing².

In a 2014 systematic review by Harvard School of Dental Medicine, researchers found CAD/CAM technology is able to provide results that are comparable to that of conventional techniques for implant survival, abutment survival, technical and biological complications². In the study, a total of 101 patients were treated with a total of 138 CAD/CAM implant abutments with the same patient group seen at 12, 36, and 67 months. Three different major CAD/CAM systems were used to fabricate the dental implant abutments: Procera (Nobel Biocare), Straumann Cares, and Zirconzahn. Amazingly, they found the CAD/CAM abutment survival rate is 100% and no complications were reported, including screw loosening or fracturing of the abutment².

In sum, CAD/CAM custom abutments have demonstrated survival rates comparable to conventionally fabricated abutments and have several advantages over other fabrication methods, allowing the technique to be a viable option for manufacturing custom implant abutments.  

About the Company

Since 1991, Iverson Dental laboratory has provided dentists with high quality dental lab products and excellent dental lab services to ensure dental patients are completely satisfied with their restoration outcome. Iverson dental labs strongly believes in using high quality certified materials and authentic manufacturing components to fabricate their dental prosthetics given that material quality influences longevity of the restoration. Iverson Labs values their skilled team of certified dental technicians because clinical evidence has shown adequate skills of the technician are important for the long-term success of a restoration. Iverson dental labs strive to be a great dental resource for dental professionals by offering training on digital dentistry and new dental implant techniques at their cutting edge on-site operatory and training facility.

To inquire more about CAD/CAM custom implant abutments, please visit http://www.iversondental-labs.com or call us at (800) 334-2057.

Reference:

1. Kim, E., & Shin, S. (n.d.). Influence of the implant abutment types and the dynamic loading on initial screw loosening. The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics J Adv Prosthodont, 21-21.

2. Kapos, T., & Evans, C. (n.d.). CAD/CAM Technology for Implant Abutments, Crowns, and Superstructures. The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants, 117-136.