The implant-abutment connection and its impact on prevention of peri-implant diseases and crestal bone stability—an academic and clinical evaluation of the literature

The crestal bone stability and the long-term presence of bone crest at the level of the implant platform to achieve implant success and esthetic outcomes is of paramount importance. The paper presents and academic and clinical evaluation of the literature on the characteristic features of the implant-abutment connection, the main characteristic of an implant collar and platform to control the microgap and bacteria proliferation leading to prevention of crestal bone loss. In addition, the role of the abutment-disconnection, the size of the horizontal mismatch, and last but not least the importance of the Morse-tapered connection has been discussed as fundamental requirements for improvement of implant success and long-term successful esthetic outcomes. The author presents also clinical and histological information on the implant abutment connection, which is beneficial for the bone stability. All this scientific information must be critically analyzed in the modern implant dentistry when new implant surfaces and implant-abutment connections are developed to improve strategies for better osseointegration and sustainable crestal bone stability.