Esthetic Implant Abutment Solutions Using a Pressable Lithium-Disilicate Material
Inside Dental Technology delivers updates on digital workflows, materials, lab techniques, and innovation in dental technology through expert articles and videos.
June 1, 2013
Volume 4, Issue 6, June 2013
Page(s):
Many factors contribute to the long-term success or eventual failure of dental implants and their respective restorations. Among them are esthetics, ease of retrieval, fit, occlusion, ease of fabrication and placement, and cost.1 Whether cement- or screw-retained, the type of dental implant restoration clinicians select for a given case must take these considerations into account.1
In weighing the challenges associated with both options at the time of placement, screw-retained implant crown restorations have been demanding, requiring management of screw-access channel closure to ensure proper occlusal anatomy, function, and esthetics.2 As a result, dentists have elected to attach implant crowns to the underlying abutment using cementation techniques.2 While dental implants have commonly been restored with cement-retained restorations,3 unfortunately, residual cement adjacent to implant margins has proven to be deleterious to periodontal tissues and a contributing—if not causative—factor in peri-implantitis.4
Recently, however, the introduction of pressable lithium disilicate (IPS e.max® Press, Ivoclar Vivadent, www.ivoclarvivadent.com) has offered laboratory ceramists the means to provide dentists and their patients with durable, esthetic, and functional abutment solutions that eliminate the procedural challenges and potential clinical complications associated with cement-retained, implant-supported restorations. Lithium disilicate demonstrates strength of 400 MPa and is suitable for a range of indications, including thin veneers (ie, 0.3 mm), monolithic molar crowns, anterior and premolar bridges, and now hybrid abutment restorations. Its clinical success in a variety of indications has been documented in the literature.5,6
In combination with a titanium abutment, lithium disilicate represents a solution for hybrid abutments with separate crowns or hybrid abutment crowns. Both options enable laboratory ceramists and dentists to efficiently deliver implant restorations that demonstrate the lifelike functional and optical characteristics that today’s patients demand.
Hybrid abutment crowns combine a lithium-disilicate abutment and monolithic crown in one and represent an efficient two-in-one solution. To maximize esthetics and optical properties, restorations can be characterized simply using stains (IPS e.max® Ceram).
The monolithically pressed hybrid abutment crown is luted to the titanium abutment using a universal restorative primer and self-curing luting composite with light-curing option (eg, Monobond® Plus or Multilink Implant®, Ivoclar Vivadent), after which the restoration is screwed onto the implant in one piece. This eliminates the need to remove excess cement intraorally and greatly reduces the risk of cementoma, a known contributor to peri-implantitis and implant failure.7
The screw-access channel is subsequently sealed using composite material (eg, Tetric EvoCeram®, Ivoclar Vivadent). The screw can be accessed at any time, if necessary, which affords the dental team clinical flexibility.
Additionally, hybrid abutment crowns fabricated with pressable lithium disilicate also represent an economically attractive alternative to conventional implant-supported restorations. This is particularly significant for the posterior area, where strength, durability, and convenient clinical handling impact procedural efficiency and clinical success.
For a more individualized solution, a hybrid abutment fabricated from pressed lithium disilicate allows ideal adjustment of shape, emergence profile, and esthetic properties based on the clinical situation. Individual characterization produces a lifelike appearance near the root and transition area to the crown, which is particularly important for anterior implant treatments.
Because the crown preparation margin is located at the gingival level, the hybrid abutment geometry facilitates easy integration of the restoration, making removal of excess cementation material easy.7 Additionally, because the pressed abutment is extraorally luted to a titanium abutment using a universal restorative primer and self-curing luting composite with light-curing option then screwed into place in the oral cavity, the process is time-efficient and flexible. It then can be restored with a permanent lithium-disilicate crown.
As with all dental treatment options, success with dental implants is predicated on comprehensive diagnosis, patient selection, and treatment planning.8 Cases requiring titanium abutments that do not satisfy geometric requirements are contraindicated for pressed hybrid abutment and hybrid abutment crown restorations. Additionally, when hybrid abutment crowns are fabricated, the opening of the screw channel must not be located in contact point or masticatory function areas. If this is not possible, hybrid abutments with separate crowns are preferred.
A 45-year-old man presented after losing tooth No. 4. The treatment plan involved placing a narrow-neck, 3.5-mm platform implant (Nobel Replace®, Nobel Biocare, www.nobelbiocare.com) to be restored with a hybrid abutment crown restoration. The implant was placed, a punch technique was performed, and a healing cap was provided by the oral surgeon. As is standard for maxillary implants, 6 months were allowed for healing.
At the 6-month follow-up, the general dentist took a final shade for the lithium-disilicate-pressed hybrid abutment crown restoration (Figure 1), after which an impression coping (Nobel Replace 3.5 mm) was placed (Figure 2). A coping impression was taken using an open-tray technique, which has been shown to be more accurate than closed-tray impression techniques.9,10 This coping impression—along with the final shade selection—was forwarded to the laboratory ceramist.
Laboratory Protocol
The laboratory ceramist selected a suitably sized titanium abutment (Snappy Abutment™, Nobel Biocare) (Figure 3). In general, it is advisable to select a titanium abutment with a size matching the clinical situation and chosen implant system. Geometry requirements must be observed, because adequate space is required for pressing the crown restoration. Titanium abutments with undercuts, such as retention grooves, are suitable to some extent; however, the undercuts must be blocked out to allow a path of draw for the subsequent wax-up.
A full-contour wax-up of the hybrid abutment crown restoration that detailed the occlusal access hole was created (Figure 4). The wax-up was contoured and designed to functional and esthetic criteria and checked in relation to the opposing dentition. Additionally, the emergence profile was verified, along with the transition to the titanium abutment. The wax-up then was invested and pressed with the selected ingot.
To best match the final shade selected by the dentist, a low-translucency (LT) pressable ingot (IPS e.max Press) in shade A3 was selected for fabricating the hybrid abutment crown. After pressing, the lithium-disilicate crown fit the titanium abutment perfectly (Figure 5).
Note that the fit of the abutment crown is verified on the titanium abutment prior to separating the sprue. Additionally, the inner aspect and screw channel should be checked for bubbles in the ceramic and, if present, removed with suitable instruments.
The pressed hybrid abutment crown was cut back for layering (Figure 6). The facial incisal edge was then layered with veneering ceramic (IPS e.max Ceram) (Figure 7), characterized, and glazed (Figure 8).
To complete the hybrid abutment crown complex, the titanium abutment base was sandblasted and treated with a universal primer (Monobond Plus) for 1 minute (Figure 9). Likewise, the inside of the pressed abutment crown was etched and then treated with Monobond Plus (Figure 10).
An opaque shade of self-curing/light-curing option resin implant cement (Multilink Implant) was applied to the titanium abutment base (Figure 11), and the lithium-disilicate crown restoration was seated onto the abutment and cleaned (Figure 12). Liquid strip was applied to the hybrid abutment crown, after which it was light-cured (Figure 13) and prepared for delivery to the dentist (Figure 14).
Seating Appointment
During the delivery appointment, the IPS e.max Press hybrid abutment crown restoration was tightened into place (Figure 15). The restoration then was torqued to 30 nm (Figure 16). To seal the access hole, Vanilla Bite™ (DenMat, www.denmat.com) was first placed, followed by 1 mm of composite in shade A4 (Tetric EvoCeram) that was cured for 20 seconds. Then, a 1-mm increment of Bleach Incisal shade of the same composite was placed and cured. Articulation and occlusion were verified, and the patient was re-appointed for a follow-up.
When placing implants for patients, the goal is to provide them with functional and esthetically pleasing treatments that help maintain their oral health. It is also important to achieve this objective with minimal changes to the soft-tissue areas and surrounding dentition, which can occur when excess cement in gingival areas results in cementoma and peri-implantitis, which is the main cause of implant failure. Fortunately, IPS e.max Press abutment solutions enables laboratory ceramists and dentists to efficiently restore implants in predictable, lifelike, and flexible ways (Figure 17 and Figure 18).
Michael Koczarski, DDS
Private Practice
Woodinville, Washington
