Multi-Unit Abutments: When and How To Use Them

Many clinicians place multi-unit abutments at the surgery appointment and convert a denture into an implant-retained prosthetic. This is always best done by placing appropriate multi-unit abutments and adapting the denture to the multi-unit abutments. However, if you choose not to immediate-load the implants, it is always best to seat the multi-unit abutments before the initial impression as you begin the restorative process. If you begin the impression process with multi-units placed and take your impressions at the multi-level rather than implant level, it saves you steps later and enhances the accuracy of the final prosthetic’s fit.