Cement Retained Vs Screw Retained Dental Implants
Posted on: 20 October 2016
Dental implants can be secured using a screw (screw-retained implants) or they can be secured using cement (cement-retained implants). Which option is better for you after you have lost a tooth? This article compares the two implant-retention methods on several aspects. Use this information to select the retention method that is best suited to you.
Fabrication Costs
It is more affordable to fabricate cement retention systems when compared to fabricating screw-retention systems. This is because the screw-retention system has many components that have to be designed and fabricated separately before they are assembled during the placement process. That higher fabrication cost usually means that you will pay more for screw-retained implants. Is your budget flexible enough to accommodate the higher cost of screw-retained implants?
How Easy It Is to Retrieve the Implant
It is usually easier to retrieve an implant that was retained using screws. This is because the separate components of the screws can be disassembled easily in order to adjust the implant or repair any damage that it suffered during an accident. It is much harder to retrieve an implant that was retained in your jawbone using cement. This is because the entire retention system has to be destroyed in order to set up a new one. Wouldn't it be better for you to have a retention system that won't be difficult to remove when the need arises?
Impact on Surrounding Tissues
Some patients develop complications, such as gum swelling around an implant site, if cement is used to retain the implant within the bone tissue. This is because excess cement may not have been removed fully after the implant was inserted and anchored. Screw retainers don't have such post-insertion complications. Wouldn't you want to limit the likelihood of developing complications after your dental implants have been inserted?
Duration Before Use
There is a difference between how soon you can start eating after implants have been inserted in your mouth. Cement-retained implants require a longer wait time before you can eat. This is because the cement needs to set fully before any force can be exerted on it as you use your dental restorations. Screw-retained implants can be used as soon as the insertion is completed. This is because the retention process does not involve the use of any substances that need to set before the restorations can be used. Wouldn't it be nice to have a bite as soon as you leave the dentist's office?
As you can see, screw-retained dental implants seem to be better than those retained using cement. However, you should seek for the opinion of your dentist before you request for screw-retained implants. This is because your particular situation may promise better outcomes in case cement is used to anchor the implants that you need.
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