Abstract: An abutment system for a dental implant includes an abutment having a base portion that is engageable with a dental implant and a shoulder disposed about the base portion that includes a hybrid ceramic material. The hybrid ceramic material includes at least 85% porcelain. An opaque can be applied to the exterior surface of the abutment. A pigment can also be added to the hybrid ceramic material so as to match the color of the patient's gum tissue. A method of preparing an abutment system includes the steps of forming a curable hybrid ceramic material into a shoulder about the base portion of an abutment, partially curing the hybrid ceramic material so as to form an initially cured shoulder, shaping the initially cured shoulder to a desired shape so that the shoulder conforms to at least one patient specific criterion, and completely curing the shoulder. A plurality of abutment systems may be assembled into a kit.

Abstract: An abutment system for a dental implant includes an abutment and a shoulder. The abutment has a base portion that is engageable with the implant. The shoulder is disposed about the base portion and includes a hybrid ceramic material. The hybrid ceramic material is applied to the abutment system so that the abutment system conforms to the patient-specific criterion. The hybrid ceramic material is then cured. The shoulder may be affixed to the abutment at a post-manufacturing dental facility.