A multi-unit abutment (MUA) is an

abutment An abutment is the substructure at the ends of a bridge span or dam supporting its superstructure. Single-span bridges have abutments at each end which provide vertical and lateral support for the span, as well as acting as retaining wall ...

most commonly used with

dental implants A dental implant (also known as an endosseous implant or fixture) is a prosthesis that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, or facial prosthesis or to act as an orthodonti ...

in "All-on-Four" protocols. They are designed for screw-retained group restorations, which are often used in combination with angled dental implants and whole arch replacements, as well as screw fixation of bridges made of

zirconium Zirconium is a chemical element with the symbol Zr and atomic number 40. The name ''zirconium'' is taken from the name of the mineral zircon, the most important source of zirconium. The word is related to Persian '' zargun'' (zircon; ''zar-gun'' ...

or metal-ceramic group restorations to the implant.

Medical uses

Multi-unit abutments are used to align the

prosthesis In medicine, a prosthesis (plural: prostheses; from grc, πρόσθεσις, prósthesis, addition, application, attachment), or a prosthetic implant, is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through trau ...

on a level restorative platform, adjust for variations in implant heights, and place the implant connection at the same level as or just below the gingival surface.

Terminology

; Abutment (dentistry) : a supporting element fixed in the implant, a prosthesis is directly attached to the abutment: a crown, multiple restoration or a splinted restoration of a complete dentition. ; Multi-unit abutment: : A multi-unit abutment is a type of abutment that allows for the connection of multiple implant fixtures to a single prosthesis. They can be angled or straight, and come in various sizes and shapes to fit different implant systems and clinical situations.

References

{{Dentistry-stub Implants (medicine) Dental surgical procedures Oral surgery Dental equipment