Abstract: An abutment and method of its use are disclosed for securing dental appliances of other physiological appliances having a wide variety of confugurations to an implant mounted in a bony substrate, the abutment including an indexing element means forming an abutment surface surrounding the indexing element and separate threaded attachment for the appliance, either integrally with the implant or on an abutment attachable to the implant, the indexing element being formed with a cylindrical taper extending outwardly from the abutment surface and one or more, preferably six, planar facets intersecting the tapered surface adjacent the abutment surface but with portions of the tapered surface intermediate the facets extending substantially toward the abutment surface.