Ceramic abutments--a new era in achieving optimal esthetics in implant dentistry.

In the visible dental region in particular, implant-prosthetic restorations filling single-tooth gaps make exacting demands on function and esthetics. One crucial factor influencing the esthetic outcome is the emergence profile of the restoration. The introduction of aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide abutments, which can be milled to meet individual requirements, provides new opportunities for reconstruction adapted to anatomic findings. Tooth-matched coloring combined with customized preparation and dimensioning make for optimal mucogingival esthetics in implant-supported single-tooth restorations. The aim of the present article is to give a general survey and to illustrate the use of ceramic abutments with clinical case reports.