Implant restorations are rapidly being accepted as the standard of care when treating edentulous or partially edentulous patients. Implant-based restorations offer excellent stability, function, and esthetic results. Commonly used abutment materials: Titanium, Zirconia, and gold hue Titanium.

Custom Abutments

Produced from titanium and zirconia are popular and affordable choices for cement-retained restorations. Advancements in dental CAD/CAM and manufacturing techniques make it possible to create patient-specific abutments that are both strong and esthetic.


Custom abutments are available in three primary configurations:

  • Titanium Abutments

    These are the pillars of custom abutments. Their versatility and sturdiness make titanium custom abutments the most widely prescribed abutment of the three. They can be used in both the upper and lower arches for any tooth number.

  • Zirconia Custom Abutments

    Primarily prescribed in the interior of the maxillary arch for esthetic reasons. Since zirconia abutments are of all-ceramic composition, there is no titanium to show through the soft tissue or leave a dark central shadow in the crown. This makes them particularly advantageous when dealing with thin tissue biotypes, which may be subject to discoloration resulting from titanium shading visible through the gingiva. Besides its excellent strength and esthetic characteristics, zirconia exhibits hygienic properties comparable to titanium. Another unique feature offered by zirconia abutments is the ability to layer pink porcelain directly onto the abutment, when necessary, to approximate the color of the surrounding soft tissue.

  • Zirconia Custom Abutments with a Titanium Connection

    Known as "hybrid" and prescribed more often than all-zirconia abutments. With hybrid abutments, a zirconia body is luted in the laboratory to a short titanium connection feature, sometimes referred to as a titanium base, to provide a titanium-to-titanium interface with the implant platform. In most circumstances, this titanium connection is very short and is not visible through the tissue. Because the connection to the implant is made from titanium, these abutments are compatible with the same abutment screws used in titanium abutments.

  • Titanium Bar

    A CAD/CAM Precision Milled Bar is a one-piece milled titanium alloy structure with a passive fit. This eliminates potential weakness that may be caused by soldering or laser welded joints. The result is a more predictable, durable and precision/passive restoration. If this is a new treatment option to you, we are happy to provide consulting and support to assist you through each step of this treatment plan.

Both crowns and most bridges are fixed prosthetic devices. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, which you can take out and clean daily, crowns and bridges are cemented onto existing teeth or implants, and can only be removed by a dentist.

How do Crowns Work?

A crown is used to entirely cover or "cap" a damaged tooth. Besides strengthening a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve its appearance, shape or alignment. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function.

How do Bridges Work?

A bridge may be recommended if you're missing one or more teeth. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders..


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