ANSWERS

What is the difference between a screw retained and cement retained crown?

A screw-retained crown attaches directly to the implant abutment through an access channel sealed with composite, allowing retrieval for maintenance. A cement-retained crown is bonded to a separate abutment with dental cement, giving better esthetics in the anterior zone but no retrievability.

THE SHORT ANSWER

THE FULL PICTURE

Why it works this way

The core mechanical difference

A screw-retained crown is fabricated with an access channel that runs through the occlusal or lingual surface down to the implant platform. The restoration threads onto the abutment with a prosthetic screw torqued to manufacturer spec, typically 25 to 35 Ncm depending on the implant system. The access channel is then sealed with PTFE tape and composite. A cement-retained crown is fabricated to fit over a separate abutment (stock or custom) that has already been screwed into the implant. The crown is luted with resin or resin-modified glass ionomer cement, the same way a conventional crown bonds to a prepared tooth.

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Can a cement-retained crown be converted to screw-retained later?

Not directly. The crown was fabricated without an access channel, so converting requires a new restoration. What can be done is replacing the cemented crown with a new screw-retained crown at the same appointment if the abutment angulation allows. This is one reason the screw-versus-cement decision is made at the planning stage from the CBCT, before the implant is placed, rather than at the impression stage.

What torque value is used on the prosthetic screw?

Torque depends on the implant system. Most major systems specify between 25 and 35 Ncm for the final prosthetic screw. Straumann, Nobel Biocare, and Zimmer Biomet each publish their own torque values, and using the wrong value risks either screw loosening (under-torque) or screw fracture (over-torque). Every Dani Dental case ships with the manufacturer-specified torque value printed on the case slip so the chairside team is not cross-referencing manuals at insertion.

Is the screw access hole visible after the crown is seated?

On a posterior screw-retained crown the access sits on the occlusal surface and is sealed with PTFE tape plus composite shade-matched to the restoration. From conversational distance it is not visible. On anterior cases where an angulated screw channel routes access to the lingual, it is completely hidden from the facial view. This is the main reason ASC abutments have largely replaced the older default of cement-retained anteriors when angulation is borderline.

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This answer is one piece of a larger workflow. The pillar page covers materials, turnaround, and how we build the case to your specification.

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