The Complications of Implant Supported Fixed Prosthetics Free Essay Example, 2500 words

Several materials are currently available for the fabrication of these abutments, the more frequently used being metals or ceramics. Each of these materials demonstrates benefits and disadvantages as implant abutments (Zembic et al, 2009). Among the metals used as materials for implant abutments titanium has been found to be the most useful as it demonstrates excellent material stability, and as such is resistant to distortion. Results of clinical investigations have shown high survival rates for restorations that are based on titanium. Titanium has also been found to be a suitable implant abutment for all regions of the jaw. This had resulted in titanium implant abutments being considered the gold standard until recent times. However, titanium suffers from one severe disadvantage in that it causes grey discoloration of the peri-implant mucosa, which leads to impairment of the esthetics in the results from the implant restoration (Zembic et al, 2009). Implant abutments made from ceramic materials like alumina and zirconia offer a solution to the esthetic issues that arise with titanium based implant abutments. There is ample evidence that demonstrates the esthetic benefits of ceramic implant abutments over titanium implant abutments. We will write a custom essay sample on The Complications of Implant Supported Fixed Prosthetics or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Yet, these ceramic materials have a disadvantage too. These ceramic materials are brittle. The brittleness property of ceramics makes them less resistant to tensile and makes them prone to micro-structural defects. High tensile forces present during mastication and the possible inherent flaws in the structure raise the potential risk for fracture in ceramic implant abutments during function. The risk for fracture varies with the ceramic materials. From all the ceramic materials used in the creation of implant abutments, zirconia demonstrates the greatest fracture toughness (Zembic et al, 2009). Occlusal Material The occlusal material used for implant supported prostheses have a role to play in the development of complications. Shock absorbing capacity with the ability to and withstand masticatory forces are essential features of good occlusal material to offer protection to the implant-bone interface. Biomechanical features of acrylic resin led to its predominant use during the initial period of the development of implant techniques. Clinical experiences however, led to the consideration of other occlusal material, particularly when it was found that some other occlusal material like porcelain were found to be as good as acrylic resin for use as occlusal material.