Skip to content
FR Access 01 42 67 05 04 Appointment

Implant restorations: cemented or screw-retained?

Once the implant has integrated with the bone, the crown can be fixed in two ways: cemented onto an abutment, or screwed directly into the implant. At the practice, the screw-retained restoration is the rule; here is why.

Draft awaiting review

Book an appointment01 42 67 05 04

Two ways of fixing a crown

Couronne sur implant transvissée (vis accessible par un puits) et couronne scellée (ciment entre pilier et couronne) (illustration)
Left, the screw-retained crown: the screw is reached through a channel that is then sealed. Right, the cemented crown: a layer of cement between abutment and crown, with possible excess under the gum (diagram).
  • Cemented restoration: an abutment is screwed into the implant; the crown is then cemented onto this abutment, like a crown on a natural tooth.
  • Screw-retained restoration: the crown and its abutment form a single piece, fixed into the implant with a screw; the screw is reached through a small channel on the chewing or inner surface, sealed with tooth-coloured composite.

Why we favour the screw-retained restoration

No cement under the gum

During cementation, excess cement can flow under the gum, where it is hard to see and to remove. Studies have linked these residues to inflammation of the tissues around the implant, which can go as far as bone loss (peri-implantitis). The screw-retained restoration removes this risk at the source.

Removable and repairable

A screw-retained crown can be removed without damage: for deep cleaning, to check the tightening, to replace an abutment, to repair the ceramic or to modify a neighbouring restoration. A cemented crown often has to be cut off to be removed.

Simpler follow-up

Checking the gum and bone around the implant is easier when the junction can be inspected. The 2023 European recommendations on the prevention of peri-implant diseases stress a restoration that allows access for cleaning and the absence of excess cement.

When a cemented restoration keeps its interest

If the axis of the implant brings the screw channel out on the visible surface of a front tooth, cementation may be preferable for aesthetics. Angled screw-channel abutments now reduce these situations, and precise implant planning (guided surgery) usually makes it possible to plan an axis compatible with a screw-retained restoration. Cementation then remains a reasoned exception, performed with an abutment whose margin is accessible and with careful removal of the cement.

What it changes for you

  • The small screw channel is sealed and invisible in most cases.
  • If a problem arises, the crown can be removed and refitted during the same appointment.
  • Original components (screw, abutment) remain available from the manufacturer of your implant.

At the practice

Implant restorations are planned from the moment the implant is placed, using the digital impression and three-dimensional imaging, so that the axis of the implant allows a screw-retained crown. They are made with original Straumann or Dentsply Sirona components.

Sources

To go further on periodontics and implant surgery: Docteur Victor Hazout’s website.

Related care

Implant dentaire dans l'os (animation)Implantology

Further reading

Après deux implants et fines facettes en céramique (patient du cabinet, accord écrit)Missing tooth: bonded bridge, regular bridge or implant?A missing tooth is not always replaced the same way. Three fixed options exist; the choice depends first on the neighbouring teeth, on the available bone and on your situation. Empreinte optique : la praticienne montre à la patiente son modèle 3D sur l'écran du scanner intra-oralDigital impressions: the 3Shape TRIOS scanner in practiceAt the practice, impressions are taken with a 3Shape TRIOS intraoral scanner, without paste or trays. Here is how it works and what it brings to your care. Implant dentaire dans l'os (animation)Straumann and Dentsply Sirona implants: our choice explainedNot all implants are equal. The practice has chosen two long-established manufacturers, Straumann and Dentsply Sirona, for their clinical track record, the quality of their surfaces and the lasting availability of their components. Modélisation 3D d'une grille en titane au maxillaireCustom titanium mesh or titanium-reinforced PTFE membrane?When bone is lacking to place an implant, it has to be rebuilt. Two devices hold the grafted volume in place during healing: the custom-made titanium mesh and the titanium-reinforced PTFE membrane. The choice depends on the shape and extent of the defect.