Current industry recommendations are to screw retain implant restorations whenever possible. The advantages are numerous:
- No cement needed
- Reduced implant periodontitis
- Easily retrievable, maintainable and repairable
- Employ highly esthetic e.max crowns
- Machined titanium housing eliminates screw loosening and abutment fracture
- No abutment to seat because crown and abutment are one
However, screw-retained crowns are not always possible in the anterior region simply because the screw access channel may interfere with the esthetics of the restoration. Therefore, the current industry recommendation is to use a restoration-driven, custom-made zirconia abutment in the anterior. That means the CAD/CAM software proposes an ideal tooth in the edentulous implant area, the technician perfects the design and then the software proposes an abutment with maximum dimension beneath the crown.
The result is a beautiful, perfectly placed abutment that provides maximum support to the crown.
