The implant healing abutment has two roles in the course of the dental restoration. The first is to promote the healing of the peri-implant soft and hard tissues during the healing phase, including the initiation of soft-tissue contouring. The second is to protect the implant site during the initial post-surgical healing stage from accumulation of plaque or debris. Close proximity to the newly placed implants and interaction with the healing site require a high-strength, lightweight, biointert, and biocompatible material. 

Edison Medical offers implant healing abutments and healing caps in high-grade polished titanium (Ti-6Al-4V ELI) and PEEK. Both materials feature the physical, chemical and mechanical properties considered ideal for the post-surgical healing phase.

Healing abutments are available in a range of connections, diameters and heights to accommodate various restoration scenarios. With the vast number of implant systems in today’s market, Edison Medical designs and manufactures its healing abutments and healing caps to fit more than 70 implant system brands, including Astra Tech®, Straumann®, DIO®, MegaGen®, Nobel Active®, Osstem® / Hiossen®, Neo Biotech®, Zimmer and Dentium®.

Healing abutment and healing cap formats

Edison Medical’s standard implant healing abutments are manufactured from high-grade titanium and come in a height of either 3.0 mm or 5.0 mm, and with four diameter options: 3.8 mm, 4.5 mm, 5.5 mm, and 6.3 mm. Both heights are also available as a 4.5 mm-diameter concave abutment that is an ideal solution for restorations where emergence profile shaping and primary stability are of concern.

For multi-unit systems, titanium healing abutments are available that feature a permanently-fixed internal screw; the screw being fastened to the abutment reduces risk of being lost or being dropped mid-procedure.

PEEK healing caps are suitable for use with EM’s Clicq™-Pression abutment concept, which unites three components of the dental restoration into a single transfer abutment. These PEEK healing caps are temporarily cemented in place post-impression until the final prosthesis placement, and are available in three height options of 4.0 mm, 6.0 mm and 8.0 mm, all with a diameter of 5.5 mm.

Titanium and PEEK: Choice materials for the healing phase

There are several possibilities for material of abutment, and Edison Medical does offer zirconia abutments apart from titanium and PEEK. However, for the duration of the healing phase and qualities required to ensure long-term success of the restoration, the Edison Medical R&D team has settled on working with the finest quality titanium and PEEK healing abutments for their exceptional physicochemical and mechanical properties. 

Titanium

The power of titanium and its highly desirable qualities was first identified and exploited by the aerospace industry in the 1950’s. While it took the dental implant industry another few decades to catch on, titanium also became one of the favored materials for use by dental implantologists. Titanium is a highly attractive material for both aerospace and implantology due to its light weight, high strength-to-weight ratio and its resistance to corrosion.

In the case of dental implantology, these characteristics make it especially advantageous in direct-loading scenarios, in the oral environment that exposes the material to multiple corrosion pathways (different bacteria, varying pH levels, saliva composition, etc.), and for overall functionality. In addition, the biocompatibility and biointertness of titanium make it ideal as an implant material and for its long-term placement in the oral environment.

PEEK

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) has similar qualities to titanium that have also driven its more recent success in the dental implant field. PEEK, unlike titanium, is not a metal, but is a high-performance, medical-grade plastic. However, its structure being a complex semi-crystalline gives it physical qualities comparable to titanium: durable, stiff and extremely strong. PEEK is also similar to titanium in that it is biointert, biocompatible, and resistant to corrosion, high temperatures and chemicals. 

Unlike titanium, PEEK has a natural, tooth-like color that can be advantageous in restorations where esthetics are of concern. PEEK also exhibits a reduced accumulation of biofilm on the surface of the abutment compared to titanium. PEEK can be cleaned and sterilized using in-house dental equipment, and is indicated for a range of implant restoration scenarios.

As titanium still slightly outperforms in terms of biocompatibility, proliferation, cell adhesion and cold welding, researchers are still working to improve PEEK’s surface to bring it up to par with titanium.

What is a healing abutment?

A healing abutment is a special dental abutment that is used during the healing phase of the restoration process. During this typically four to six week period, the healing abutment plays two roles. The first is to promote the healing of the peri-implant soft and hard tissues, including the initiation of soft-tissue contouring. The second is to protect the implant site during the initial post-surgical healing stage from accumulation of plaque or debris.