Pillars in personalized zirconia - literature review

Abstract

The widely used prosthetic abutments are made of titanium, however, the grayish appearance of the metallic abutment through the soft tissues and the gingival recession with metal exposure results in aesthetic dissatisfaction, disfavoring the harmonic smile for the patient. The indications found in the literature, for the use of ceramic abutments, are in the correction of small changes in the positioning of the implant, thin gums, where there is a risk of titanium transparency, unit replacement in aesthetic regions, or may be an alternative in cases of teeth posterior or fixed partial dentures. In a literature review, zirconia abutment has a 99.1% 5-year survival rate with less technical problems, fewer biological complications and more aesthetic results compared to titanium abutments. Given the properties of zirconia, it has been shown that personalized zirconia abutments are a great material, both in aesthetic properties, when the gingiva becomes thin, avoiding exposing the grayish appearance of titanium, as well as mechanical, making the material more resistant, promoting predictability of treatment and always using the titanium metal base for the longevity of the piece. Both zirconia and lithium disilicate have achieved significant results in fracture resistance and can also be used as a treatment option for custom ceramic abutments.