Prosthetics on implants is the most reliable and functional method of restoring a missing tooth or multiple teeth.
An important stage in restoring aesthetics in the area of a lost tooth is the formation of the gum, its proper contour, and its fit around the future crown.
For this purpose, there is a procedure called **gum former placement**.
What is it?
It is a small screw with a “cap” in the shape of a cylinder, made from a titanium alloy – a bioinert material that does not cause allergic reactions and is not rejected by the body. It is screwed into the implant and helps the gum to form anatomically correct around the future crown. The gum former is selected based on the patient’s individual features as well as the location and parameters of the tooth being restored. A small inconvenience is that the gum former may be visible when speaking or smiling. There are zirconia models that are more aesthetic in appearance.
In the case of immediate implantation, the gum former can be placed during the same surgery – the tooth is removed, the implant is installed, the gum former is screwed in, and stitches are applied.
However, if the implantation was done using the classic delayed method, the gum former is screwed in at the final stages of implant healing. During the time the implant integrates, soft tissue grows around it. Therefore, the surgeon must excise excess gum tissue to place the former. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia and takes about 15–20 minutes.
The healing period of the gum after placing the former is about a week or slightly longer – it varies individually. The gum margin continues to form over the next two weeks. After that, prosthetics can begin.
The gum former is often confused with the abutment. The latter is the connecting part between the crown and the implant. The abutment is installed at the time of prosthetics after the gum former is removed, and the crown is placed on top of it.
For such a critical stage as creating the gum contour to be successful, not only the skill of the dental surgeon is important, but also the patient’s adherence to all instructions given by the doctor. These include:
- dietary regimen;
- proper oral hygiene;
- avoiding heavy physical activity;
- medication support if necessary.
We hope this article helps you better understand **why a gum former is placed** and how important this stage is for achieving a flawless result.
