Healing Abutment

A healing abutment (also called a gingival former or healing cap) is a temporary component screwed into the implant after surgery. Its purpose is to pass through the gum tissue and maintain the opening through the gum while the implant heals underneath.

Appearance

Healing abutments are cylindrical components that look like small buttons or smooth plugs emerging from the gum. They come in various heights and diameters to match the gum tissue thickness at different sites.

Function

The healing abutment serves two purposes: it keeps the gum tissue from closing over the implant, and it shapes the tissue as it heals, creating the emergence profile for the final restoration. The shape of the healing abutment influences how the gum tissue appears around the final crown.

Customised healing abutments

In aesthetically demanding cases, particularly front teeth, a customised healing abutment or temporary crown may be used to sculpt the gum into a more natural shape before the final restoration is made.

Duration of use

Healing abutments are typically worn for 8–16 weeks during the osseointegration phase. At the restoration appointment they are replaced by the final abutment and crown.