2007 Volume 6 Issue 3 Pages 200-203
Patient: The patient was a 56-year-old male presenting with a missing maxillary right central incisor. Subsequently, an endosseous implant was fiited. After a 6 month healing period, a provisional abutment was fabricated to an optimal shape on the provisional titanium component. After confirming custom-guided tissue healing and appropriate emergence profile, the provisional abutment was scanned using the Procera® scanner. The CAD/CAM custom titanium definitive abutment and the definitive porcelain fused to the metal crown were delivered as an esthetic implant restoration.
Discussion: Compared to conventional procedures, the following advantages can be seen: 1. There is no access hole in the provisional restorations. 2. Appropriate soft-tissue contours can be induced by modification of provisional restoration. 3. A definitive abutment with the identical contours can be reliably obtained using CAM. 4. An extra temporary plastic component is not necessary.
The disadvantages are: 1. The provisional abutment using the temporary cylinder has to be made. 2. The Procera® scanner has to be set up chair-side. 3. The patient has to wait during scanning.
Conclusion: A custom Procera® abutment with an ideal emergence profile can be fabricated by scanning the provisional abutment with appropriate soft-tissue contours.
