SMART 1 Implant Abutments: Advanced Implant Technology

mm Written by Andrew Sedler

Tooth loss is a widespread occurrence. Issues such as tooth decay, trauma, disease, or wear all play a role in contributing to edentulism. Patients suffering from tooth loss can often experience issues with nutrition that can lead to other health problems such as coronary issues and obesity. One of the best therapies to treat patients suffering from tooth loss is implant placement.

According to the American College of Prosthodontics, there are approximately 2.3 million implant-supported restorations made each year. Understanding the importance of patient satisfaction led Burbank Dental Lab to create its proprietary SMART 1 Implant Abutment.

Titanium Implant Abutments

Understanding the challenges often associated with implant cases is what made this the focus in developing the implant team for Burbank Dental Lab and innovations and solutions in implant dentistry.

SMART 1 Implant Abutments

SMART 1 Implant Abutments provide a custom-designed abutment to match the specific needs of each case. SMART 1 abutments are created to provide an ideal emergence profile, essential in promoting healthy tissue. In addition, they can be designed to correct any angulation issues and build up anatomically to support the chosen restoration.

While scanning and design software is readily available in most laboratories, they are primarily tasked with designing substructures and crowns. Through a digital workflow, these types of restorations have seen improvements in turnaround time, fit, and cost of goods.

At Burbank Dental Lab, we took this technology one step further to incorporate designing our own implant abutments (SMART 1). This allowed for specific design control and improved customization.

Smart 1 - Burbank Dental Lab - Los Angeles - Burbank

When making decisions about implant restorations, it is important to consider the intricacies of designing an abutment that will promote health in the oral environment. SMART 1 implants are designed by some of the most knowledgeable dental technicians using the best design software available.

The key to the SMART 1 implant's effectiveness is the extraordinary milling process offered by Burbank Dental Lab. State-of-the-art equipment is used throughout the manufacturing process, including computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling (see image below) available in less than 5% of the labs in the United States. CNC milling offers the highest level of precision when milling.

  • Ideal emergence profiles
  • Promotes healthy tissue
  • Precision correction of angulation challenges
  • Exact anatomical designs to promote adequate support
Milling Machines

Material Selection

Abutment selection is a critical component of a successful implant case. For example, depending on the thickness of the tissue surrounding the implant site, the color of the implant can greatly affect the final esthetics of a case. The gray in many abutments can show through where tissue is thin, creating a graying cast at the gum line.

Zirconia abutments or abutments with a gold hue can offer a far better esthetic result in these types of cases. To offer a solution for every situation, SMART 1 implants offer versatility to implant restorations.

When planning an implant case, it is important to evaluate the type of implant retention best suited for a specific case. For example, it is ideal to choose a cement-retained implant restoration when the screw access site would be visible, or there might be issues with the occlusal load of a restoration. In contrast, a screw-retained restoration works best when cement clean-up is difficult. It is easier to retrieve these restorations, and the margins of these restorations can be placed well below the tissue.

SMART 1 Cement-Retained Options

SMART1 implant manufacturing process

When the plan calls for a cement-retained restoration, these can be fabricated in titanium or zirconia with a titanium base (see above image). They are used for both single unit or multi-unit cases. When choosing a cement-retained restoration, the interocclusal space must be 9mm -10mm in the posterior.

Cement-Retained Implant Delivery

  • Use the implant manufacturer's specifications when tightening the abutment.
  • Close the abutment access hole
  • Most clinicians recommend using cement that is specifically for cementing crowns to implant abutments, which ensures retrievability.

SMART 1 Screw-Retained Options

Many implant cases are restored with screw-retained restorations. In addition, the access hole allows for easy retrievability, and there is no danger to the tissue and bone due to cement being left at the site.

When opting for a screw-retained restoration, it is advisable to use a surgical guide (see image below) to ensure the proper screw access hole position and angulation. If the screw-access hole would terminate on a functional cusp or facial, then a screw-retained restoration should be avoided for esthetic reasons.

One of the SMART 1 screw-retained abutment options is the abutment of CO/CR (see image below).

This material requires a CNC milling system to mill the abutments accurately. These abutments are unmatched in strength (800 MPa) and precision, being milled to and/or better than OEM tolerances. As a result, you can use them on everything from single units to larger, more complex cases. To restore the abutment, layered porcelain can be applied directly to the CO/CR abutment. This provides for internal buildup and characterization for natural final results.

Another screw-retained option is the SMART 1 Zirconia abutment with a titanium base. These abutments are best used in the anterior to provide the best possible esthetic outcome. In addition, the zirconia abutment allows for light transmission that results in one of the most natural and vital implant options. These restorations can either be layered, or a monolithic restoration can be placed to restore the abutment.

Both the SMART 1 zirconia option and the CO/CR option have the following indications:

  • Use when interocclusal space is under 7mm
  • Use when retrievability is desired
  • The best option when tissue shaping is required
  • If the ability to clean up cement is difficult, screw access is a great solution.

SMART 1 Implant Abutments

Burbank Dental Lab can accept implant cases with both traditional impression techniques as well as digital workflows.

Smart1 implant abutments are designed on the latest software and milled with extremely sophisticated milling systems to provide the best custom abutment options available.

The implant team at Burbank Dental Lab is available to help guide the case from surgical stent to final restoration. The abutments are designed with optimal specifications that take into consideration the soft tissue, contours, and emergence profile to create an ideal implant restoration that will last.

We hope you will call or chat today to learn more about implant planning and restorative options at Burbank Dental Lab.

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Burbank Dental Lab has three new state-of-the-art Carbon M2 printers. We are very excited about the options that these cutting-edge printers will allow us to offer our dental clients. Here are some of the advantages that these printers will begin to deliver to you and your dental practice.

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Fabrication
of the future
is here!

Burbank Dental Lab has three new state-of-the-art Carbon M2 printers. We are very excited about the options that these cutting-edge printers will allow us to offer our dental clients. Here are some of the advantages that these printers will begin to deliver to you and your dental practice.

Our New
State-Of-The-Art
3d Printers

Carbon offers a highly dependable 3D manufacturing solution for many dental applications with its breakthrough Digital Light Synthesis™ technology, enabled by a wide range of dental materials.