Reduction of excess cement during cementation of implant-retained crowns: A clinical tip

Introduction of osseointegrated implants has changed the way partially and completely edentulous patients can be treated. Restorations supported by implants can be either cement retained or screw retained. Cement-retained prostheses have gained preference in many cases, making them the restoration of choice for the treatment of implant patients. One of the drawbacks of cement-retained restorations is the extrusion of excess cement into the peri-implant sulcus with subsequent complications. Both the detection and the subsequent removal of the excess cement are significantly complicated by the depth of the gingival sulcus and by the contours of the abutment and the implant crown. A simple chairside technique to minimize the overflow of cement at the time of cementation by the use of a custom-made abutment replica is described here.