screw-retained restoration
A prosthetic crown or bridge secured to a dental implant abutment by a retaining screw rather than by dental cement.
Full Definition
In implant prosthodontics, a screw-retained restoration is one in which the prosthesis is held in place by a small titanium or gold alloy retaining screw accessed through a screw-access hole (SAH) in the occlusal or palatal surface. This design offers the advantage of retrievability — the restoration can be removed for maintenance or repair without risking damage from de-cementation. Editors should note that 'screw-retained' is always hyphenated when used attributively. It is the direct alternative to a 'cement-retained restoration'. The screw-access hole may require a composite resin closure discussed separately in clinical write-ups.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate 'screw-retained' when attributive. Distinguish from 'cement-retained', which describes the alternative fixation method. Abbreviate the screw-access hole as SAH on second reference if introduced in full on first mention.
In Context
- "A screw-retained restoration was preferred in this case to allow for easy retrieval should the implant require treatment in the future." — Prosthetic treatment report
- "Ensure that 'screw-retained' is hyphenated consistently throughout the manuscript, as several instances appear as 'screw retained'." — Copyediting markup note