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ePaper created 2016-03-24, 17:16:09 | version 1.38.0
| industry 40 implants 1 2016 For a healthy start, always use a new healing abutment Authors: Dr Chandur Wadhwani & Steve Hurson, USA Fig. 1: Healing abutment (left) was placed in an ultrasonic bath for ten minutes, then autoclaved. However, since proper cleaning was not achieved, sterilisation was not possible. A new healing abutment can be seen on the right. Fig. 2: The screw thread may contain bio-burden after it has been removed. Fig. 3: Debris often packs very tightly into the area of the screw head. Physical removal is often achieved at the expense of damage to the site. Fig. 4: Repeated use of the star driver has rounded the engaging part of the screw. Material in contact with the soft tissues affects the quality of the mucosal attachment. Healing of the soft tissue in the oral cavity has been under thoughtful study recently. In the article below, the authors explain the significant influence the healing abutment has on that process. The healing cap protects the internal aspects of the implant from debris accumulations and serves as the initial transmucosal connection between the external environment and the inner parts of the hu- man body. As a bacteriological barrier with a tight connection between the epithelium and implant component, it helps to prevent infection, crestal bone loss and soft tissue recession, all of which are crucial for long-term success. Two-zone barrier The soft tissue barrier that contacts the standard titanium healing abutment consists of two zones: a marginal zone consisting of junctional epithelium and a deeper apical zone comprised of a fibre-rich connective tissue. It has been shown that the prop- erties of the material placed in contact with the soft tissues have a decisive influence on the quality of the mucosal attachment. Chemical composition and surface topography of the abutment material Fig. 2Fig. 1 Fig. 4Fig. 3 12016