Glossary

A one-part implant, also called a one-piece dental implant, is one of two types of implants used by dental professionals today. The other is a two-part implant. The two-part dental implant features a design of two separate pieces — the surgical implant or implant screw, and the prosthetic abutment. The implant must be placed first and finished with a cover screw to allow for healing. When the implant has healed over a period of several weeks, the cover screw is removed and the prosthetic is placed. A one-piece dental implant features the surgical implant and the prosthetic abutment in a single part. The one-part implant was intended to eliminate structural weakness, also known as a microgap, that comes with a two-piece implant design. During this procedure, the implant screw is placed and finished with a healing abutment. Often, one-piece dental implants are loaded with a temporary restoration until healing is complete.

A one-piece abutment is an abutment that connects into a dental implant without the use of an additional retaining screw. The abutment can be retained by cement, friction, or screw threads. While one-piece abutments are often used as an immediate method of restoring missing teeth, they can be complicated as the correct angulation must be achieved for the implant to fit properly. In order to attain the correct angulation, the dental professional is often required to position the abutment intraorally. In addition, further complications can arise as the positioning procedure may interfere with primary stability and impair osseointegration. However, the one-piece abutment also has a variety of advantages. The one-piece composition provides additional strength as it removes the structural weakness found in the two-piece implant. The one-piece abutment also requires fewer components reducing the overall inventory and gives the dental professional more precise control over the final fitting of the implant.

A one-piece implant is a type of dental implant in which the endosseous and abutment portions consist of one unit. The one-piece implant was originally designed to address the structural weakness issues that were part of the two-piece implant. The one-piece implant increases the strength and stability of the prosthesis by eliminating the weakest point of the two-piece implant, the abutment interface. In addition, the one-piece implant is an effective choice for patients or surgical sites where there is not enough bone to properly support a prosthesis. Despite these advantages, one-piece dental implants do have a disadvantage in that they are less flexible than the two-piece implant due to their single-unit construction. This lack of flexibility prevents more detailed adjustments once placed. After imaging and a careful evaluation of the patient’s dentition and underlying bone, the dental practitioner will determine which type of implant will best fit the patient’s needs.

The one-screw test is a test used to check the fit of a multiple unit screw-retained dental restoration. It is one of several different types of clinical assessments that may be done to check for implant framework misfit. To perform the one-screw test, a single screw is placed in the terminal dental implant abutment and evaluation is made on the opposite side. If the framework rises or has a ledge, detected clinically or radiologically, the fit is considered inaccurate. This test provides essential information regarding any implant framework misfit present in a fixed prosthesis. Such misfits can cause a variety of issues including the alteration of biomechanical function, increased stress on the implant screws and framework, and the prevention of bone resorption following an implant placement. One possible way to reduce the likelihood of implant framework misfit is to section the framework diagonally prior to placement.

In one-stage grafting procedures, there is a simultaneous implant placement where primary stability is achieved followed immediately by grafting procedures to fill the remaining defect and/or to support the soft tissue. Following the placement of an implant, some patients may still not have enough of the soft tissues needed to create a pleasing post-surgical aesthetic. In order to correct this, a soft tissue—or even a hard tissue—graft may be done immediately following implant placement both for the support of the implant and for a more normal appearance. Soft tissue grafting may be done by utilizing the pouch technique to add contour and bulk to the tissues surrounding the implant. A good source for graft material can be found in the subepithelial connective tissue. Harvesting tissue from this location has several benefits including a lower chance of necrosis and a higher volume of soft tissue harvesting.

A one-stage implant, also known as a nonsubmergible or single-stage implant, is an endosseous dental implant designed to be placed following a one-stage surgery protocol. The implant is designed with a transmucosal coronal portion. Usually the transmucosal portion and the implant are one piece with no microgap. A one-stage implant is often used when the patient has very good bone quality and density ensuring that the implant will be stable upon placement. A one-stage implant places a healing abutment into the bone at the time of a one-stage surgery. The tissues around the abutment are given time to heal for up to six months before the prosthesis is attached. One-stage implants may also be used in areas of the mouth where cosmetic appearance is not a significant issue. For patients who do not have good bone quality or who have insufficient bone, a two-stage implant procedure may be utilized.

A one-stage surgery is a surgical protocol consisting of placing an endosseous root-form dental implant in bone and leaving it in contact with the oral environment during the healing process. This approach eliminates the need for a second surgical procedure. A one-stage surgery is generally used in a situation where the patient has good bone quality and depth and where the cosmetic appearance is not an immediate concern. The one-stage surgery is usually utilized in conjunction with the one-stage implant in which a healing abutment is placed and left exposed at the time of the surgery. In contrast, the two-stage surgical approach is best used for patients who have insufficient or poor-quality bone. In this type of procedure, the implant is placed, and the gum tissue closed over the top to allow for healing. Following proper healing, the gum tissue is opened again, and the abutment and prosthesis placed.