Implants: screw-retained vs. Cement-retained

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.