Custom or stock abutment: the decision in four questions

1. Is the implant angulation favourable?

If the implant axis allows a screw channel to emerge in a non-aesthetic surface, a stock abutment can work. If the angle forces the access labially, a custom abutment is the only way to correct it without a cement-retained compromise.

2. Is the gingival margin visible?

A high smile line with a thin biotype will show a titanium collar. A zirconia custom abutment solves it; a stock abutment does not.

3. Is the emergence profile acceptable?

Stock abutments are round. If the tooth being replaced is not, the soft tissue will heal around the wrong shape, and correcting it later means surgery.

4. How much interocclusal space is there?

Reduced space often rules out a stock abutment plus crown. A custom abutment can be designed to the available space.