Angulated Screw Channel
Also written as: ASC — Angulated Screw Channel
A prosthetic design feature that allows the screw access channel of an implant crown to exit through the occlusal or lingual surface rather than the buccal surface, correcting for angular discrepancies without an angled abutment.
Full Definition
The angulated screw channel (ASC) is an engineering solution incorporated into certain implant–abutment systems that redirects the screw access hole by up to 25 degrees from the implant axis, enabling screw-retained restorations on angled implants without the need for angled abutments or cement retention. Editors should note that 'ASC' is the widely used abbreviation and that the term is a registered design concept associated with specific implant manufacturers, though it has become genericised in the literature. The phrase must be distinguished from the concept of a simple 'screw access channel', which is the standard vertical bore present in all screw-retained restorations.
Usage
Usage note: Define 'ASC' at first use as 'angulated screw channel (ASC)'. Distinguish from 'screw access channel', which is a standard feature of all screw-retained crowns.
In Context
- "The use of an angulated screw channel eliminated the need for cement retention in all six anteriorly tilted implant sites." — Prosthetic treatment planning report
- "The manuscript uses 'ASC' without definition at first use; the editor should insert 'angulated screw channel (ASC)' on its initial appearance." — Copy-editing instruction