Today when a natural tooth is lost the ideal solution to replace both the function and esthetics is to use dental implants. the process of replacing a tooth requires several steps and three distinct replacement pieces, the dental implant, implant abutment and crown. Dental Implants are replacement tooth roots and are placed in the bone below the gum tissue and fuse to your bone. In order to connect a dental crown, dental bridge or a denture to a dental implant once it is healed a connector piece is required, called a dental implant abutment. Dental implant abutments come in many shapes and sizes but all accomplish the same goal. The abutment nests inside a hollow area in the center of the implant and then is retained in place with a screw. The majority of the abutment extends above the gum tissue, then the crown is attached to the abutment. 
The shape, size and material the abutment is made of will be chosen based on the type of tooth being replaced (front tooth or back tooth), the type of replacement tooth or denture being planned and the material from which the replacement tooth or teeth are being fabricated. If you are having dental implants abutments are a required piece of completing your care.