1. What Are They?
In traditional implants, a tiny screw passes through the top of the crown to secure it to the implant post. In a screwless system, the crown is attached using one of two primary methods:
- Cement-Retained: The crown is bonded to the abutment (connector) using high-strength dental adhesive, much like a traditional crown on a natural tooth.
- Friction-Fit / Locking-Taper: A precision-engineered mechanical connection (often called a “Morse Taper”) where the components are pressed together so tightly that friction alone holds them in place.
2. Why Choose Screwless? (Pros)
- Superior Aesthetics: There is no “screw hole” on the biting surface. This is critical for front teeth (anterior restorations) where a visible filling or metal shadow can ruin the look.
- Reduced Mechanical Failure: There are no tiny screws to loosen, snap, or strip over time—a common complication in traditional implants.
- Better Hygiene: The absence of a screw channel means there are fewer microscopic gaps where bacteria can hide, potentially reducing the risk of peri-implantitis (gum infection around the implant).
- Simplified Procedure: For the dentist, “clicking” or cementing a crown into place is often faster than meticulously torqueing a screw.
3. Potential Drawbacks (Cons)
- Difficult Retrievability: If the crown chips or the gum needs treatment, a cemented or friction-fit crown is much harder to remove than a screw-retained one.
- Cement Risks: If excess dental cement is not perfectly cleaned away during the procedure, it can irritate the gums and cause bone loss.
- Precision Requirement: Friction-fit systems require extreme manufacturing precision. If the fit isn’t 100% perfect, “micromovement” can occur, leading to failure.
4. Ideal Candidates
You might be a better candidate for screwless implants if:
- You are replacing a front tooth where looks are the priority.
- Your jawbone shape forces the implant to be placed at an angle that would make a screw hole visible or difficult to reach.
- You have a history of bruxism (teeth grinding) that frequently causes screws in other dental work to loosen.
