Dental Implant Healing Cap

Healing caps are also known as “healing abutments.” They help promote healing in the surrounding tissues after a dental implant surgery by “abutting” the new tooth on either side. The cap is made a little wider than the implant itself to help push the gumline into a natural position.

A healing cap can be placed with the dental implant or during the second stage of a two-stage procedure. If it’s the former, your oral surgeon can place both the implant and cap in the same operation. The cap will stick out of the gum around the implant and help the area heal. When the implant has integrated with the jawbone and the area has healed, your surgeon can remove the cap and put in the permanent abutment and crown.

In a two-stage procedure, the order of events is a little different. The surgeon will leave the implant without the crown or abutment so that it can integrate with the jaw and gums on its own. This requires a few months of healing between procedures. When you go in for the second stage, they will make a second incision to put the healing cap on the implant and then wait a few more weeks for that to heal as well.

After healing, they can remove the healing cap without another surgery and attach the permanent abutment and crown. The purpose of healing caps is to protect soft tissues like the gums from exposure during the healing process. It can also help some patients recover faster with fewer procedures, but it’s always advised to consult with your surgeon about which method would be best for your situation.