As we explain on our dental implants page, there are three main components to a dental implant:
- The titanium fixture (sometimes simply referred to as “the implant”)
- The Implant Crown
- The abutment (the piece that connects the titanium fixture and the implant crown)
There are two different types of implant crowns: Cement retained implant crowns and Screw retained implant crowns.
Cement retained Implant Crown
In a cement-retained implant crown, the abutment and the implant crown are two separate pieces. First, the abutment is screwed directly into the dental implant itself. Afterwards, the implant crown is cemented onto the abutment.
Screw-Retained Implant Crown
In a screw-retained implant crown, the abutment, and the implant crown are fused into one piece. A screw passes through a small hole in the center of the crown in order to screw the fused abutment and crown directly into the implant. A cosmetic tooth-colored filling is then placed over the small screw hole to protect the screw.
Implant Bridges
When only one tooth is missing, we can replace it with a single cement-retained or screw retained implant crown. When multiple teeth are missing, we can replace them with either a screw retained implant bridge or a cement-retained implant bridge. We generally prefer to use screw-retained implant crowns and bridges if possible, but many times cement-retained crowns are chosen for cosmetic reasons.
Are you missing teeth you would like to replace? If you think you may be a candidate for dental implants, Contact Us today. Moshman Dental, serving Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, and Carroll Gardens since 1949.
