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Purpose: This article reviews the development of esthetic implant abutments and illustrates
the use of aluminum oxide implant abutments in two cases. Materials and Methods: Two
patients were restored with single-tooth implants for the replacement of anterior teeth. One
patient received a prefabricated aluminum oxide abutment, which was customized by the
dental technician. A second patient received a custom aluminum oxide abutment, which
was designed and fabricated using CAD/CAM technology. Both cases were restored with
all-ceramic crowns. Results: Satisfactory functional and esthetic results were achieved in
both cases. The CAD/CAM abutment required no further customization in the dental
laboratory. Conclusion: The use of aluminum oxide ceramic abutments improves dental
and mucogingival esthetics in single-implant restorations. The use of CAD/CAM technology
simplifies the design and customization process. Clinical studies are required to confirm the
long-term performance of this type of restoration. Int J Prosthodont 2002;15:488–493.
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