Anatotemp® Anatomic Dental Implant Healing Abutment Features Natural Shape and Contour
After nearly 20 years practicing as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Terry Philibin, DDS, MS, MBA, found himself still confronted with the same problem: He saw a need for ideal emergence-profile creation that conventional round healing abutments did not, and perhaps could not, offer. "Conventional healing abutments are round, and, as we all know, cross-sections of teeth at the area of the gingiva can be oval-, square-, or triangular-shaped," Philibin explains, "so a conventional healing abutment just does not provide those shapes." In addition, the use of conventional abutments, he says, can result in gingival tissue blanching at the time of restoration seating, or incomplete restoration seating due to an inadequate gingival opening, which can possibly result in cement extrusion and eventual alveolar bone loss.
In response to these challenges, Philibin developed an idea to redesign the conventional healing abutment with the goal to cover the cross-sectional anatomy of all teeth. This led to the foundation of Buckeye Medical Technologies, LLC, and the eventual development of the Anatotemp® Anatomic Dental Implant Healing Abutment.
Anatotemp healing abutments are unique in that they have a natural shape and contour that are tooth-specific. As a result, these abutments are used in practice by top experts in both implantology and oral surgery, Philibin says. Oral surgeon Michael Block, DMD, a lecturer, teacher, and owner of multiple private practices in Louisiana, favors the adaptability of the Anatotemp abutment. "I have been using the Anatotemp for implants made by several implant manufacturers," Block confirms. "The advantage of using an anatomically correct subgingival form has been very well received by my referral clinicians."
Anatotemp is an off-the-shelf healing abutment that comes in six shapes: mandibular molar, maxillary molar, maxillary/mandibular premolar and mandibular canine, maxillary canine, maxillary lateral/mandibular incisor, and maxillary central. It has been designed through a cone-beam computed tomography study, and its design is based on the average sizes that are ideal for unique restorative cases.
"Rather than placing a round healing abutment or spending time doing laboratory work with a technician on a custom temporary abutment, you can more efficiently place an Anatotemp," Philibin suggests, adding that the use of an Anatotemp typically requires less chairtime. "When a traditional or digital impression is taken, it captures the ideal emergence profile of the gingival tissue; it doesn't capture a round circle." Additionally, Anatotemp abutments are designed with interproximal concavities against which bone or bone grafting material can be placed in an attempt to maximize interseptal bone height, he says.
The benefits of using this healing abutment extend to all the participants involved in the treatment process-the dental implant surgeon, laboratory technician, and restorative clinician. The abutment anatomically contours soft tissue during the healing process. "After the implant has integrated, the gingival sulcus is ready for an impression without the need to further develop the tissue," Block explains. "It is relatively inexpensive, quite stable, and easy to place."
This enhanced tissue contour can also lead to improved esthetic results for the patient. "Patients also appreciate the elimination of painful blanching tissue when abutments are placed for the final restoration," Block adds. Additional patient benefits include a comfortable, secure placement and stability of the implants over their lifespan.
Another distinct advantage of Anatotemp is its ability to act almost as a cap over bone grafting material used around immediately placed implants. The device can completely fill the gingival void and stabilize the underlying grafted material. "The Anatotemp anatomic healing abutment has made creating an ideal emergence profile just plain easy," Philibin says. "It is simple to place, looks terrific, requires no additional adjustments, and provides my restorative dentists and laboratories with ideal tissue contours."
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