Cover Screw
A flat, fully submerged screw placed into the implant's internal connection to seal it during the submerged healing phase of a two-stage implant protocol.
Full Definition
The cover screw is used in two-stage (submerged) implant surgery to protect the internal threads of the implant fixture while osseointegration occurs beneath a flap of overlying mucosa. Unlike a healing abutment, it does not emerge through the gingiva and does not shape soft tissue. Editors must be careful not to substitute 'cover screw' for 'healing abutment' or 'closure screw,' as these are distinct in both function and placement timing. The cover screw is removed at second-stage surgery when the implant is uncovered and a healing abutment is placed. In single-stage protocols, a cover screw is typically not used, and its erroneous mention would constitute a protocol inconsistency.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate as 'cover screw' (two words); never 'coverscrew.'
In Context
- "Following implant placement, a cover screw was hand-tightened and the flap was closed primarily over the implant." — Surgical case report
- "The manuscript incorrectly referred to a 'cover screw' in a single-stage protocol where a healing abutment was clearly intended." — Peer review editorial comment