Establishing a suitable surface roughness for lithium disilicate implant abutments under laboratory conditions: a morphologic SEM and profilometric pilot study

The increasing use of dental implants rather than fixed cantilever bridges for standard dental restorations has led to the development of multiple materials in this field. The goal in modern dentistry in recent years has been to achieve results in implantology that match the natural dentition in esthetics and function. Constant efforts have been made to achieve a perfect emergence profile, and to individualize the surrounding periimplant soft tissue. Powder-free digital scanning is now possible, which allows for the computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) of ready-to-fit customized immediate implant abutments in various appropriate materials. Since lithium disilicate can be used as a hybrid abutment for restorations, many patients today can more easily afford a customized solution. Apart from the esthetic advantages in the transition area of the crown, the microscopic characterization of the emergence profile is also relevant. Numerous research studies have shown that the optimal surface of titanium abutments is neither too rough nor too smooth. Following these studies, various methods have been used to establish the same proven roughness for zirconia and lithium disilicate surfaces. The present study looks at different polishing methods and glaze firing processes. Keywords: surface roughness, dental abutment, lithium disilicate, emergence profile