Implant Level, Abutment Level, Male or Female? Full Arch Implant Hybrid and Bars - 3Shape Tutorial

So many choices, and what's right for my case? 

This tutorial will hopefully shed some light on how to create the order form on 3Shape for your next case. 

We will be explaining the difference between Implant Level, and Abutment Level, as well as the difference between Male and Female parts. 

Please note we use NT Trading Libraries, and this tutorial illustrates NT Trading Library names. The concept however, is the same across most DMEs. 

Let's get to it. 

First and foremost, you will need to ask your doctor if the implant supported bridge, or bar will be from implant level or abutment level. 

Implant Level

Implant Level means the patient currently has an implant in the mouth, with nothing else. The Scan Body used is an engaging scan body that fits straight down on the implant. 

Implant Level is how most custom abutment cases are scanned. The Doctor places the scan body directly on the implant, and the lab creates a custom abutment to engage that implant. 

The image shown is the implant (Transparent black) and a stock NT Trading MUA Abutment. 

Abutment Level 

Abutment Level is used for cases the doctor has the MUA Abutments, and has used an MUA Scan Body to place over the abutment to scan the case. In 3Shape, when you select Abutment Level, the system will replace the scan body with an implant and MUA abutment as one piece (seen in the picture to the left) 

It is extremely important that The doctor's MUA (Multi Unit Abutment), Scan Body, and your DME must all match. There are a lot of replica companies out there, and matching only the "Original" Implant manufacture does not guarantee a fit to the MUA. Just because the interface is designed to engage the implant, does not mean the replica company's MUA geometry (the cone shaped portion) will match the "Original" manufacture's MUA geometry. 

 Male Parts 

Designing a restoration with the "Male" Part indicated means your restoration will sit directly on the MUA. Whether it is Implant Level or Abutment Level. The purple base shown in the image, is just 3Shape's interpretation of smoothing out the MUA. 

The image is for illustration purposes, and we do not recommend designing a custom abutment over an MUA abutment. Male parts are mostly used to design implant bars, because they need to sit directly on the MUA. 

Female Parts

Female Parts is a coping that gets bonded to zirconia. Female Parts are necessary for Zirconia, PMMA, and any other soft material restoration. This coping acts as a spacer between the implant MUA, and the restoration so the doctor can apply the right amount of torque. 

Your design restoration will have screw retention holes, that have no "Screw Stoppers". The holes will be like a tunnel, all the way through. 

Once the female part, the coping, is bonded to the zirconia, it introduces a ledge to stop the screw. This ledge can receive the amount of torque necessary. 

Great, now how do I create my 3Shape Order? 

We hope this help shed some light on Full Arch hybrid, and Bar Order Creation. 

- Saro H.