Tenting Screw
A small titanium or PEEK fixation screw placed to elevate and stabilise a barrier membrane above the bone surface, creating a protected space for bone regeneration.
Full Definition
Tenting screws are used in guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures to mechanically support a collagen or non-resorbable membrane away from the underlying bone defect, preventing membrane collapse into the wound space and maintaining volume for new bone formation. The term is rendered as a noun phrase with no hyphen. Editors must distinguish tenting screws from fixation pins (used to anchor the membrane to bone) and from osteosynthesis screws (used for rigid fixation of bone grafts or block grafts). Documentation should specify the material (titanium vs. PEEK) and the number of screws used.
Usage
Usage note: Preferred form is 'tenting screw' (not 'tent screw'). Do not confuse with fixation pins, which anchor the membrane rather than support its elevation.
In Context
- "Two titanium tenting screws were positioned centrally within the defect to prevent membrane collapse during the six-month healing period." — Surgical operative report
- "The manuscript inconsistently refers to 'tenting screws' and 'tent screws'; the editor standardised all instances to 'tenting screws' per the journal's preferred style." — Copy-editing log