A zirconia abutment and restoration are selected for an implant in the anterior esthetic zone. What is the PRIMARY advantage over a titanium abutment in this location?

Correct answer: A. Zirconia is tooth-colored and avoids the gray shine-through of metal at a thin gingival margin

• A. Correct. The dominant reason to select zirconia in the ESTHETIC ZONE is optical: a titanium abutment produces a gray discoloration visible through thin peri-implant mucosa (particularly when tissue thickness is under ~2 mm) and at a receding margin. White zirconia avoids that shine-through. Zirconia is also highly biocompatible with low plaque affinity.
• B. Adequate soft tissue thickness remains essential for peri-implant esthetics and health regardless of the abutment material.
• C. Titanium is far tougher and more ductile. Zirconia is strong but BRITTLE, and abutment/screw fracture is a recognized zirconia complication — a real trade-off in this choice.
• D. Titanium remains the gold standard for osseointegration; zirconia does not integrate faster.