Differences Between Cemented & Screwed-In Dental Implants

Dental implants are the most reliable, and most permanent form of restoring lost or missing teeth. They also have an incredibly high success rate and can last forever, if you take good care of them!

Implants are known for being life-like, natural and for having variety. There are different kinds of implants for different circumstances. Not all implants are created equally – they’re available in different shapes and sizes, they can be used for a single tooth or as part of a multiple tooth bridge, and while their basic architecture is the same, you also have two options for how the artificial tooth attaches to the implant: screwed or cemented.

• Screwed: The upside of a screwed attachment is that it can fasten an artificial tooth to an implant without the need for cement, which will allow for easy removal for repair or replacement if needed. The downside to a screwed attachment is that it could cause a cosmetic problem. Even though the access hole for the screw will be covered with a tooth-colored filling, it could still be noticeably different from the rest of the attachment.
• Cemented: An artificial tooth that is cemented to the implant won’t have this cosmetic issue that the screwed in one will have and will look just like a natural tooth. But, unlike a screwed crown, removing a cemented crown for repair or replacement can pose a problem. Also, in some cases, the cement can cause gum swelling and bone loss in patients with particularly sensitive mouths.

Ultimately, no matter which option you choose, you’ll benefit from a dental implant. If you further information on dental implants and their different options, please contact Coastal Periodontics to make an appointment with Dr. Kate Wilson.