When it comes to the restoration of implants we typically have two treatment options: screw-retained or cement-retained.
screw retained implants
Although both treatment options can be used predictably, they each have their own advantages and disadvantages:
Screw-retained
Advantages:
Known retention
Easy to remove/re-tighten if it were to become loose
No risk of leaving residual cement
Disadvantages:
Dependent on implant orientation/angulation
May be unesthetic
screw retained implant restoration
Cement-retained
Advantages:
Independent of implant orientation/angulation
Enhanced esthetics
Disadvantages:
Unknown retention
Can be difficult to remove
Although a majority of the implants I restore are done as cement-retained restorations, in the past few years I have transitioned into restoring an increasing number of implants as screw-retained. Why this transition? Mainly because there is a lot of good research showing the problems associated with leaving residual cement.
