If you have been working with your dentist to have a dental implant placed in your mouth, then you may have been informed a great deal about the dental implant root. This root is extremely important because it cements your artificial tooth in the jaw. However, there are also other important parts of the implant that you should know about. One of these parts is called the abutment. Keep reading to learn about the abutment and how you should take care of it after your dental implant is secured.

What Is An Abutment?

When it comes to dental terms, an abutment is considered a connecting element that attaches one dental prosthetic to another. Dental implant abutments are devices that attach the dental implant root to the crown that sits on top. The abutment is a screw device that sits in a hole at the very top of the implant root. Abutments may be made out of titanium, like the implant root itself, or it may be made out of a tooth-colored material. Tooth colored attachments help to ensure that the abutment does not show through the artificial tooth. In many cases, the device is made from a strong and hard material called zirconia. 

Dental implant abutments are typically placed on a dental implant root during the surgical operation that secures your implant root. It will stick up a bit from the gums as you wait for your implant crown to be secured.

How Do You Care For The Abutment?

Your implant crown will cover the abutment once it is secured in place. You will not have to pay much attention to the device once the tooth is cemented down. However, you will need to pay some attention to the device during the initial healing process. This is the time frame between your initial surgery and the crown placement. You may need to heal for up to six months before your crown can be set. 

During the healing period, you will need to clean carefully around the abutment. This helps to remove food, plaque, and bacteria to keep infection risks relatively low. Brush the abutment with your toothbrush and also use a water flosser around the edge of the attachment where it meets the gums. You want the water to flush out around the lip of the device where it fits into the implant root. Use an angled tip with the flosser making sure the head is positioned towards the gum line.

For more information, contact a local dentist, such as Kenneth Schweizer DDS PA.

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